Oakwood City Council urges DHS to stop plans for 1,500-bed ICE detention facility

Leaders in a small North Georgia city are asking federal officials to pause plans for a large immigrant detention facility.

The Oakwood City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a resolution urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to halt planning, construction and preparations for a proposed detention center that could hold up to 1,500 inmates.

City officials say they were not informed about the project before the federal government moved forward with acquiring the property. In the resolution, the council states the city was not consulted or provided environmental, infrastructure, public safety or operational documentation about the facility.

Oakwood leaders say they first learned about the proposal in February from the Gainesville field office of U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, a Republican who represents the area in Georgia’s 9th Congressional District.

City Manager B.R. White said the news came as a surprise.

“It feels like we were blindsided and that we’ve been steamrolled over,” White said.

Oakwood, a city of roughly 7,000 residents, could face financial and infrastructure challenges if the project moves forward. Officials say the proposed site — two warehouses about a mile from City Hall — could reduce tax revenue and strain the city’s sewer system.

Documents shared by officials in Social Circle, another Georgia city under consideration for a similar facility, describe the Oakwood site as a regional processing center. The center could house between 1,000 and 1,500 people for average stays of three to seven days before transfers or removals.

The resolution also asks DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide documentation and encourages nearby governments to adopt similar resolutions.