Oakwood officials blindsided by new ICE processing center plan

Residents and officials of Social Circle have expressed their concern and disapproval of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in their small town.

As that fight seems to be lost, a new federal immigration facility has been announced for another Georgia town, Oakwood. The city of Hall County is located just 50 miles outside of Atlanta.

Officials confirmed Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security is set to acquire a warehouse to convert into an ICE processing center. The purchase is expected to be finalized in two weeks.

City officials were completely caught off guard.

“We were totally blindsided by ICE locating a facility here,” City Manager B.R. White told 11 Alive. “We didn’t receive official word until yesterday afternoon from Representative Andrew Clyde’s office telling us, yes, they are definitely coming here.”

White said the facility is supposed to be a short-term processing facility that will house around 1,500 detainees before they are transferred to the larger warehouse in Social Circle.

“There will be a cost. The cost to us will be supporting and defending the right to a peaceful assembly. We will guarantee that and our police force will work with whoever’s protesting in whatever capacity to make it safe for them,” said White.

Around 150 people gathered at a city council meeting Monday and expressed their opposition to the plan, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“A city should not normalize the detention of human beings in a warehouse-style facility located down the road from neighborhoods, churches, schools and families,” said Ana Morales, who noted she lives near the warehouse.