New documents released by the City of Social Circle reveal that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to spend approximately $38.3 billion on its "Detention Reengineering Initiative," which includes a large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center proposed to be located near the city center.

10,000-Person Mega Center

According to the documents, the proposed facility on East Hightower Trail would have a capacity of up to 10,000 people. The funding source is reportedly the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."

City leaders stated they met with DHS and ICE to hear a presentation on the plan. City Manager Eric Taylor described the meeting as informational, though he felt some aspects were like "going through the motions."

ICE stated that the national plan aims to reduce the number of facilities from approximately 300 to 34, shifting from a privately operated model to government-owned facilities.

Local Reaction

During Monday night's city council meeting, the plan was not formally on the agenda, but many residents attended.

Attorney Samantha Hamilton (Atlanta) and resident Monroe Henry Anthoine voiced their opposition, arguing that the city should focus on preventing the facility from opening.

ICE responded:

"These are not 'warehouses' for detention — rather, they are well-organized facilities that meet current detention standards. Each location will undergo community impact assessments and rigorous due diligence processes."

A spokesperson for Representative Mike Collins said he supports DHS's mission to detain and deport criminal immigrants but also shared concerns that Social Circle might lack the infrastructure to support the project's scale.

Infrastructure Concerns

City leaders believe the federal technical analysis contains errors, particularly regarding the wastewater treatment system mentioned, which does not belong to Social Circle's system but to another county.

The facility is described as a "mega center" that could comprise multiple processing centers connected within a large complex.

Opening Timeline

Social Circle officials stated that the center could be operational as early as late spring if the plan proceeds.

The project is currently generating strong local debate concerning infrastructure capacity, community impact, and the city's role in the approval process.