Georgia town cuts off water to massive planned immigration center

Raphael Warnock looks at a large warehouse while standing on a road
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock visited the city of Social Circle, Georgia, where city leaders are trying to stop the Department of Homeland Security from converting a vacant, 183-acre warehouse into a mega Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility.

Lily Oppenheimer / WABE

A small town about 45 miles east of Atlanta is pushing back against a massive immigration detention center that leaders say will stretch its infrastructure past the breaking point.

Social Circle City Manager Eric Taylor said there is a lock on the water meter at the facility, and it will stay there until U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can demonstrate that it can operate the facility without overburdening water and sewer services.

“There is a lock on the meter,” Taylor said in a statement. “A representative from ICE was informed about the lock on the meter shortly after the sale of the property when she inquired about how to establish an account. The lock is there until ICE indicates how water and sewer will be served without exceeding our limited infrastructure capacity. The City of Social Circle is not satisfied that an adequate engineering analysis has been conducted.”