Dozens gather outside Atlanta ICE office for vigil, call for due process

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Nearly 100 people gathered outside the downtown Atlanta U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office Saturday for a candlelight vigil, with organizers urging attendees to protect immigrant families and due process rights.

Participants said they wanted those detained inside the building to know they were not alone.

For some, the issue was personal. Gail Maclin said her husband was deported.

“I lost my housing. I’ve lost my car. I’ve lost all my worldly possessions. I still have Amari, but Amari’s not here — he’s in Senegal,” Maclin said.

April Watkins, whose fiancé was also deported, said she came to honor people who organizers say died in immigration detention or during enforcement actions.

“You should not lose your life for walking to work,” Watkins said.

Throughout the evening, attendees embraced families they said had been torn apart, offering emotional encouragement and financial support.

Adelina Morello, whose husband was deported, described the financial impact.

“The financial burden is more than you want anyone to bear. And you go home to an empty house that used to be filled with your spouse. It’s a void,” Morello said.

Others said they were not personally affected by immigration enforcement but felt it was important to speak out.

“We are not following our own law. We’re not following our own standard and it is not OK,” said Jenny, a volunteer at the event.

Attendees also encouraged people to contact state leaders about immigration policies and to vote ahead of the November election.