Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) recently joined local leaders in voicing opposition to the Trump Administration’s efforts to open an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility, expected to strain local resources, with no plan for federal support to alleviate the anticipated costs.
The Senator’s visit came after local leaders were blindsided by the Trump Administration’s decision to bring a new ICE detention facility to the community. It also followed his efforts to block the purchase of warehouses that will serve as detention centers.
In a recent comment on the situation, Sen. Warnock acknowledged that Social Circle was largely supportive of the Trump Administration, but failed to receive proper consultation.
“Folks in Social Circle voted for this president overwhelmingly,” Sen. Warnock stated. “But here’s what they didn’t vote for — they didn’t vote for a 10,000-person detention center that will triple the size of their town, to place a massive detention center next to an elementary school.”
The Visit
Sen. Warnock met with local leaders, including Social Circle Mayor David Keener and City Manager Eric Taylor, who stated they don't have the infrastructure to support the facility.
Taylor explained that the city is only permitted to use one million gallons of water per day. He elaborated that during the hottest temperatures, 80 to 90 percent of the allotted amount is used with the city’s current population of 5,000.
Taylor added that the sewer system is operating at a capacity of 660,000 gallons per day, far more than the expected additional one million gallons per day needed for the site.
During his visit, the Senator surveyed Social Circle’s drinking water treatment site and wastewater treatment site. He also visited Social Circle Elementary School where he met with concerned parents and the superintendent.
The tour of the city concluded at the site of a one-million-square-foot warehouse on East Hightower Trail where the Department of Homeland Security plans to house as many as 10,000 detainees beginning as early as April.
For context, ICE purchased the warehouse and surrounding 235 acres in February for $128 million.
