Social Circle ICE site canceled following months of controversy
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The ICE facility planned for Social Circle has been canceled, the city said Thursday.
Sources in the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Collins confirmed the update to Atlanta News First on Friday, and multiple sources within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the cancellation through Social Circle officials.
The facility had been controversial since it was first reported by the Washington Post late last year, which said DHS was planning a site with a capacity of 5,000 to 10,000 people—potentially tripling the population of the small city.
“It was so exciting,” said activist Gareth Fenley with the group Indivisible GA. “It’s a joyous day in showing that sometimes the little guy can win against the really big federal government.”
Social Circle officials immediately opposed the project, citing concerns about the strain on infrastructure in the city of just 4,974 residents. According to the city, the federal government never contacted them or requested input.
“The majority of what I’ve learned throughout this process since December has been through the media,” said Social Circle Mayor David Taylor on Friday.
In March, Taylor shut off water service to the proposed facility unless DHS explained how it would meet the site’s utility needs.
“Our water and sewer infrastructure is maxed out already, and they were talking about tripling the population overnight,” he said.
A DHS analysis report previously stated the facility would not significantly impact municipal infrastructure.
Taylor said many residents opposed the project from the start, despite the city having widely supported the Trump administration in recent elections.
“The feedback from the very beginning was that the community didn’t want it, and this community was unified against it despite the fact that it went 73% for President Trump in the last election,” he said.
In a statement Thursday, the city said it “would like to express its sincere gratitude to the many individuals and organizations that helped advocate for our community throughout this process.”
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff praised the decision Friday, saying, “This news proves yet again that public pressure and opposition works. I will continue fighting alongside Georgia communities against overreach by this administration.”
On a press call Friday, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock also welcomed the decision.
“To put it plainly, the officials in the Trump-Vance administration got nervous because the people stood up,” he said.
As for what happens to the site next, Taylor said he hopes it can be repurposed into something that generates tax revenue for the city. However, DHS still owns the property and told the city it would first be offered to other federal agencies before potentially being sold to a private buyer.
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City of Social Circle calls proposed ICE detention facility ‘infeasible’
‘My hope is it goes away’: Social Circle leaders opposed to potential ICE facility
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