Another Georgia city denies receiving notice of proposed ICE detention center
The City of Oakwood says it has not been contacted by federal officials about a proposed immigration detention facility reportedly listed within its city limits.
In a statement released last week, Oakwood leaders said national media outlets reached out to the city about a reported list of proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, including one allegedly identified in Oakwood. City officials say they have received no communication from the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, or any other federal agency about plans to establish a detention center there.
"The City of Oakwood has not received any communication" regarding such a facility, the statement reads.
Officials added that if the city is formally approached about a detention center, the public will be notified immediately. The city also acknowledged that a facility of that scale could have significant infrastructure impacts.
"The City is aware of the potential infrastructure impacts such a facility could have on our community," the statement reads.
B.R. White, city manager for the town of Oakwood, told CBS News Atlanta, that Oakwood found out about the plan for DHS to purchase two warehouses on Monday when they received word from Georgia U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde.
"I have received confirmation that DHS is advancing its plan to convert a warehouse in Oakwood into a small ICE processing facility," Clyde said in a statement. "My staff and I will remain in contact with DHS and ICE officials to gather more information as the project moves forward. We will also continue coordinating with local officials as we receive additional details."
Clyde added that he supports the agency's broader mission while also prioritizing local concerns.
"As we continue to monitor the project, I remain committed to both supporting ICE's critical mission of removing criminal illegal aliens from our nation and championing the needs and safety of our North Georgia communities," he said.
According to White, the detention facilities could be operational in two months.
The clarification from Oakwood comes amid heightened scrutiny across metro Atlanta and surrounding areas over possible ICE detention expansions. In nearby Social Circle, federal officials have reportedly purchased a facility on Hightower Trail with plans to open a detention center that could hold up to 10,000 detainees, more than twice that city's population.
Social Circle leaders have expressed concern about the potential strain on utilities, police staffing and other city resources. The proposed site is located less than a mile from Social Circle Elementary School. City officials have said they were not involved in key stages of the planning process, including an engineering review of water and sewer capacity conducted by DHS.
Similar to Social Circle, White said that he was also concerned about the effects the detention facilities could have to Oakwood's infrastructure. He said the city purchases its sewer services from the City of Gainesville and that they were already almost over their maximum capacity with a population of around 7,000 residents.
City leaders are directing residents with questions or concerns to contact their state representatives and pledged transparency if new information emerges.
A spokesperson for ICE said that the agency would not confirm office locations due to a "coordinated campaign of violence" against its officers, but said that it needed more space due to hiring more officers.
"Thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers and agents on the ground across the country. That's a 120% increase in our workforce," the spokesperson said.
