(NewsNation) — Georgia is cracking down on squatters, fed up with people ignoring property laws.
Fulton County marshals raided a 15,000-square-foot mansion in Atlanta on Wednesday after a group of squatters showed signs they possibly identified as “sovereign citizens,” people who believe they are exempt from U.S. law.
They allegedly showed up to the property, set up camp and dared anyone to remove them.
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The video of the raid was posted to social media by the marshal’s office. In the video, heavily armed officers swept through the mansion during the early morning raid. At one point, officers even used a drone to ensure the area was secure.
NewsNation reached out to the Fulton County Marshal’s Department for comment but has yet to hear back.
In July, the Georgia Squatter Reform Act was enacted, stating that squatters caught inside a home will now be cited and given three days to present a lease. If they can’t do so, or the lease is found to be a forgery, a misdemeanor charge immediately becomes a felony.
The new law also states that it doesn’t have to be the property owner who reports the squatters, meaning it could be a neighbor or a homeowners association member who calls the police.