Sen. Ossoff, Mayor Keener Push Back on Reported Plans to Build ICE Detention Facility in Social Circle, Ga.

Last month, The Washington Post reported the Trump Administration planned to build "large-scale" detention facility in Social Circle

Social Circle community has strongly opposed reported plans to build facility

Sen. Ossoff & Mayor Keener: "A proposed ICE detention facility is not right for Social Circle, and the City of Social Circle does not support it."

Social Circle, Ga. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Social Circle Mayor David Keener are pushing back on reported plans to build a large-scale ICE detention center in Social Circle.

Last month, The Washington Post first reported the Administration's plan to open several "large-scale" detention centers across the country, including a prospective facility in Social Circle, which would be one of seven warehouses nationwide holding 5,000 to 10,000 immigrant detainees to be staged for deportation - more than the City's current population of roughly 5,000.

Social Circle residents and city leaders have repeatedly voiced strong opposition to ICE's reported plan.

Now, alongside Social Circle Mayor David Keener and local leaders, Sen. Ossoff is elevating the City's concerns directly to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, urging them to promptly engage the City's leadership with more information on the reported plans.

"A proposed ICE detention facility is not right for Social Circle, and the City of Social Circle does not support it. We are urging the Administration to abandon this plan, which risks overwhelming the City's resources and more than tripling its population," U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Social Circle Mayor David Keener said in a joint statement.

According to the City's official public statement, "the City does not have the water and sewer infrastructure to support this type of facility. Current capacity limitations would not support a development of the size described in media reports. This proposal could result in an effective tripling of the City's population that is hovering right around 5,000 citizens."

In addition, local leaders have said there is not a site within the community that will provide a safe distance from homes, businesses, and schools.

"City and county officials have reported challenges getting answers from ICE about the prospective facility," Sen. Ossoff wrote to Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons. "I urge the Department to carefully consider the significant concerns raised by Social Circle's leaders and citizens regarding the proposed ICE facility. I further urge the Department to promptly engage the City's leadership to ensure that its citizens receive critical information regarding the proposed facility and its potential impacts on their community."

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff's inquiry to DHS and ICE.

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