Georgia Town Sues DHS Over Planned Mega Immigrant Detention Center

(MENAFN) A small community outside Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement over plans to construct a large immigrant detention facility that officials say would far exceed the town’s capacity.

The lawsuit was filed by officials in Social Circle, a town of fewer than 5,500 residents, in response to plans for a detention center intended to hold up to 10,000 migrants.

Town authorities argue that the project would place severe strain on local infrastructure, warning of risks including “dry taps and raw human waste spills,” NBC News reported.

According to the filing, ICE allegedly proceeded with plans to convert a large warehouse into a mega-detention site purchased for $128 million in public funds, while failing to comply with certain state and federal requirements.

The lawsuit also claims that ICE informed local officials the facility could begin operations by June 2026, despite the fact that renovation work has not yet started. It further alleges the agency paid more than five times the property’s assessed value for the site.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said the agency is reviewing policies and proposals following the confirmation of new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullen.

The proposed Georgia facility is part of a broader national ICE initiative that includes plans for multiple large detention centers, additional processing facilities, and “turnkey” sites designed to significantly expand immigration detention capacity.

Overall, the program is projected to cost $38.3 billion, according to ICE planning documents cited in court filings.

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