Water Access Cut for Proposed ICE Detention Megacenter

A city in Georgia has decided to shut off water access to a planned ICE detention “megacenter” and won’t lift this lockdown until a thorough explanation of the facility’s daily requirements is provided.

Officials in Social Circle have locked the water meters leading to a large warehouse on Hightower Trail, a site the Department of Homeland Security intends to utilize for housing as many as 10,000 detained immigrants.

City Administrator Eric Taylor stated that the water access will remain restricted “until ICE demonstrates how to supply water and manage wastewater without surpassing the limited infrastructure capacity.”

Social Circle has stressed that the detention center would impose a significant burden on the local community, which has an estimated 5,000 residents.

“Our water permit allows for 1 million gallons per day, but our wastewater facility is already at capacity, handling 660,000 gallons daily. This shows that the projected water and sewer needs would exceed this capacity,” the city explained.

The detention center is set to accommodate between 7,500 and 10,000 migrants, along with 2,500 staff members. A floor plan shared by DHS indicates that 10,000 beds are unallocated.

Taylor confirmed that ICE officials were informed about the water restriction soon after the DHS acquired the property.

DHS asserts that the facility will be constructed in a way that “will not adversely impact the community or surrounding properties,” according to city officials.

The agency plans to open the detention center sometime between mid-May and June, with expectations that detainees will remain there for about 60 days before being deported or moved elsewhere.

This vast “megacenter” will include a waiting area, gym, recreational space, cafeteria, and even a shooting range, among other amenities. Notably, the site is located just one mile from the local elementary school.