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**BREAKING- From Sheriff Phil Sims**
On Thursday, December 11th, 2025, Marshall County deputies, along with investigators, conducted a traffic saturation detail in several parts of Marshall County, including areas around Douglas, Horton, Albertville and Nixon Chapel. During this operation, several individuals were contacted by law enforcement that failed to provide identification, as well as some whose identification could not be verified as being a legal United States citizen.
On October 1st, 2025, the law “SB 53” ACT# 2025-453 went into effect. This law requires local law enforcement to check the citizenship status of anyone lawfully stopped or detained with "reasonable suspicion" of unlawful presence and contact federal officials if documentation isn't shown. It also creates a felony for knowingly transporting an undocumented immigrant into the state, with limited exceptions.
With this law in effect, law enforcement contacted immigration officials in the area when anyone was encountered on lawful traffic detentions that could not verify their legal status. Over the course of 6
hours, 14 subjects were ultimately taken into custody by immigration officials. Of the fourteen
individuals, twelve of them had criminal histories ranging from DUI and fraud to domestic violence and distribution and possession of drug charges. Also, three had felony re-entry charges after being
previously deported. Thirteen of the individuals were Guatemalan nationals and one was Mexican
national.
“We as law enforcement officers are bound by the law and the oath of office to enforce the law here in Marshall County. As Sheriff, that is what I intend to do. We will do so with empathy and compassion to the best of our ability, but the law will be enforced. Immigration is an issue that has been dealt with here for many, many years. Everyone must have a valid driver’s license to drive, have insurance, and must verify citizenship to work or authorization to work in the United States. You must not commit criminal acts which goes for everyone legal or illegal. Some of you may disagree with me on that and that’s fine. But I will do the job I was elected to do. I’m sure there are a lot of good folks looking for a better life here who are here illegally, but it must be done the legal way. So, I encourage you to seek the legal route to becoming legal. I have prayed and dived into the Bible on this issue. God’s word tells us that we should have empathy and compassion for foreigners in our land and the foreigners in a land
should obey the laws of that land and abide by those God has placed in charge. Until immigration law is changed or updated, we must operate under the law.” Sheriff Phil Sims

FB Sand Mountain Reporter