Georgia Town's Unlikely Coalition Fights ICE Detention Center Plans
In Social Circle, Georgia, a small town of approximately 5,000 residents, an unusual alliance has formed to oppose a federal plan to convert a massive warehouse into one of the largest immigration detention centers in the United States. This conservative-leaning community, where nearly 75% voted for Donald Trump, is pushing back against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proposal, highlighting concerns over infrastructure, transparency, and quality of life.
Local Officials Stand Firm Against Federal Plans
Eric Taylor, the city manager of Social Circle, recently received a call from ICE staffers requesting he turn on the water at a nearby 1 million square foot warehouse. The federal government purchased this facility for $128 million, with intentions to detain up to 10,000 individuals as part of the Trump administration's mass deportation strategy. Taylor refused, demanding direct communication from federal authorities. "I told them I'm not going to do it," he stated. "Not until they come and talk to me."
Alongside the mayor and police chief, Taylor has publicly opposed the Department of Homeland Security's initiative. The town, known for its 19th-century downtown buildings and rural outskirts with horse farms, faces potential tripling of its population due to the detention center. Taylor's primary worries include:
- Loss of property tax revenue, as the federal government does not pay taxes on its properties.
- Inadequate water and sewage systems, with a 1962-era sewage plant already at capacity.
- Strained emergency services, including police, ambulance, and hospital resources.
He emphasized that the town's sewage system, built to handle 660,000 gallons daily, is "already maxed out," and with thousands of detainees, "you'll have poop on the ground over there." The water supply, permitted for one million gallons daily from the Alcovy River, nearly reached its limit last summer.
Community Outrage and Lack of Federal Engagement
Residents and officials only learned of ICE's plans through a Washington Post report on December 24, sparking widespread concern. Despite efforts to engage federal representatives, including Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican Congressman Mike Collins, no substantive communication has occurred. Taylor expressed frustration, noting that as of a recent Thursday morning, not a single ICE or homeland security official had contacted local government to discuss details, even as transformation of the warehouse into a prison seemed to progress.
The town announced the $128 million purchase on its Facebook page on February 8, revealing that the price was nearly five times the property's assessed value of $29 million last year. The post garnered nearly 1,000 comments, the highest engagement in recent history, according to local business owner John Miller.
Strange Bedfellows Unite in Opposition
Despite its conservative backdrop, Social Circle has seen a coalition of diverse residents rally against the detention center. Gareth Finley, founder of Indivisible Boldly Blue, led a canvassing effort downtown, speaking with about 50 residents. She reported that approximately 80% opposed the facility, though many were cautious about expressing political views. "A lot of Maga supporters ... support ICE but don't want these things next to a school," Finley explained, referencing the warehouse's location less than a mile from an elementary school.
Residents voiced their concerns directly. Harriett Nunnally, a retired dental hygienist, said, "I would rather not have it here ... nobody wants a prison in their backyard." Becca Moore, an interior designer, called the plans "awful" and expressed worries about detention conditions and lack of congressional oversight.
Local students also engaged with the issue. Chelsea Gordon, 13, remarked, "I feel like people wouldn't want to live here" with the detention center, while Daniya Locklin, 14, mentioned fears for friends from other countries.
Organized Resistance and Continued Struggles
John Miller and others formed the One Circle Community Coalition last July, initially to address data center concerns. This group of about 150 locals, spanning liberal Democrats and staunch conservatives, held a public meeting on January 6 and sent a four-page letter to the Department of Homeland Security on January 29. The letter emphasized Social Circle's identity as "Georgia's Greatest Little Town" and argued that its rural character is incompatible with a large federal facility. It concluded, "We are Americans after all. Will we come first, or be left out completely?"
Mabel Standridge, a business owner near the warehouse, highlighted safety concerns, referencing immigration-related killings in Minnesota. "There's always a chance such a tragedy could happen here," she said, also noting the strain on emergency medical services, with only one ambulance available for the town.
In a recent development, Social Circle scheduled a meeting with a deputy chief of staff for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, but it never occurred. A Facebook post revealed that city staff waited 45 minutes past the scheduled time, but the representative never returned calls. This lack of engagement underscores the ongoing frustration in a community determined to protect its way of life against federal imposition.
