Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman was one of several Georgia Sheriffs at the White House Wednesday when President Trump signed the first bill of his new administration, the Laken Riley Act. The Laken Riley Act is named for a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by Jose Ibarra, an immigrant from Venezuela in the country illegally. While signing Laken Riley Act, Trump says he’ll send ‘worst criminal aliens’ to Guantanamo – SRN News
Once signed into law, the requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft or violent crimes. This bill won bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.
“It is truly an honor to be invited by President Trump for the signing of the Laken Riley Act,” said Sheriff Freeman, “It is a privilege to represent the citizens of Forsyth County and the State of Georgia on the National stage.”
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch posted on Facebook Wednesday that he had been invited to the ceremony, too, but had to decline. “What an honor to have received this invitation but I was not able to make it on such short notice due to other obligations as Sheriff.” Couch’s statement was accompanied by a picture of the invitation he received.
Just hours after the bill was signed, another protest was held in downtown Gainesville protesting the Trump administration’s roundup of immigrants under the president’s deportation planned aimed at those in the country illegally, this one spearheaded by a University of North Georgia student. The first occurred over the weekend.