LOS ANGELES:- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has abandoned plans to convert a warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia, into a large immigration detention facility, the city and media reports said in a statement Friday.
Georgia’s local government said, “The City of Social Circle has received notification from Congressman Mike Collins that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is no longer pursuing a detention facility within the City of Social Circle.”
The proposed facility was expected to house up to 10,000 inmates and employ 2,000 to 2,500 workers, according to previously released plans.
The federal government purchased the property for $128.5 million, more than four times its previous sale price of $29.3 million in 2023, the report said.
City officials said it was unclear whether the property would be sold or reused.
“The city is hopeful that the property will ultimately return to the local tax base and once again contribute to the economic vitality and long-term success of the Social Circle community,” the statement said.
The decision comes as DHS is reevaluating plans to convert seven recently acquired warehouses across the country into detention facilities.
A DHS spokesperson said the department is focused on immigration enforcement and is “always evaluating the best methods” to accomplish its mission.
The spokesperson added that DHS is moving to utilize existing detention capacity through partnerships with state and county officials.
The proposed Georgia facility has faced opposition from local residents and elected officials since it was first announced.