Georgia Town Blindsided as DHS Buys $128M ICE Detention Warehouse in Social Circle

A massive warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia, has officially been purchased by the Department of Homeland Security to be converted into an ICE immigration detention facility, raising alarms about its size and impact on the small town’s resources.

The deal, valued at about $128.6 million for a 1-million-square-foot former distribution center, was completed with little warning to local officials and community members.

Documents provided by DHS show the site could eventually be part of a network of large buildings, with plans that may total over two million square feet in the area.

Social Circle leaders say they first learned about the acquisition through public records and media, with no prior consultation from federal authorities. Officials worry the existing water, sewer and emergency systems cannot support a facility that could house thousands of detainees.

Related: DHS Plans $38.3B ICE Expansion, Per-Bed Cost Tops $400K

City Manager Eric Taylor said, “This is not something… the city can support.”

The controversy comes as part of ICE’s broader expansion, which includes similar warehouse conversions across multiple states in a multi-billion-dollar build-out aimed at increasing detention capacity.

Local opposition continues to grow, with elected officials and residents questioning both the process and practical impacts of hosting one of the nation’s largest detention facilities in a rural community.

Federal officials have not disclosed a specific timeline, but some reports suggest detention could begin as early as April 2026, pending infrastructure readiness.

Related: Majestic Realty Rejects DHS Plan for 1M Sq Ft Texas Detention Site