DHS pauses plans for massive ICE detention center in Social Circle
Plans to establish an ICE detention center in Social Circle, Georgia, are on hold for now.
City Manager Eric Taylor said he learned from an online article that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to pause its efforts to open a large detention center at 1365 East Hightower Trail.
"It looks like DHS has put all ICE detention facilities on hold for now. From what I can tell, it's not permanent, but they are reviewing their processes. I was supposed to meet with them today, but the meeting was canceled a couple of days ago due to a department-wide review under the new leadership."
President Trump recently appointed Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security. Taylor and several other residents declined to go on camera but said they do not want an ICE detention center in Social Circle.
"We are 100 percent opposed to it," Taylor said.
Others previously told CBS Atlanta they supported the detention center opening in town. The government purchased the facility in January, with plans to open it early this summer.
"Reports from day one indicated they were going to open 23 facilities across the country—eight of which would be called 'mega centers.' Social Circle was to be one of the eight," Taylor explained.
Taylor said Social Circle lacks adequate infrastructure to support such a facility. The town's water permit allows for only one million gallons per day.
"We can't process much more than that. We're at about 800,000 gallons a day during peak months. That leaves just 200,000 gallons to serve a city of 5,000. Adding 10,000 beds would triple the population. Two hundred thousand gallons more just isn't enough, and there's no way we could handle another million gallons on top of that," he said.
DHS now plans to better engage local stakeholders and revise its plans based on those conversations.
"That's what we've been asking for all along, so I think it's a step in the right direction. Our preference is that, after their review, they'll find this isn't the right fit and move the project elsewhere," Taylor said.
The city manager added that they are preparing for possible legal action if the project moves forward.
