The Department of Homeland Security purchased a one-million-square-foot warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia, in February as part of a $38.3 billion plan to open dozens of immigration detention centers, according to major media reports. The facility is intended to hold 10,000 detainees, major media reported. City Manager Eric Taylor shut off the water to the warehouse in March to prevent full access to the city's water supply, according to major media. DHS cancelled a scheduled meeting about the Social Circle warehouse due to a department review of processes under new leadership, and signaled it is pausing plans to buy more warehouses like the one in Social Circle, major media reported.
In Maryland, the Department of Homeland Security purchased an 825,000-square-foot building in Washington County in January for $102.4 million, according to multiple media reports. The facility was supposed to be one of the first to open, capable of housing 500 to 1,500 detainees, multiple media reported. ICE signed a $113 million contract to renovate the building, with work expected to wrap up by May 4, according to multiple media reports. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting most renovation work until the case is decided, according to two media reports. Maryland's attorney general sued, alleging the federal government did not conduct required environmental reviews and did not seek public comment until after the building was purchased, according to two media reports. The building is in a flood plain, according to the lawsuit.
People have different reasons for aligning with the exact same message. That message is: 'Detention centre, not welcome here.'
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is reviewing the warehouse plan, according to multiple media reports. The DHS Office of Inspector General is initiating an audit into the $38 billion warehouse program, according to two media reports. The program was approved under former Secretary Kristi Noem, who acquired about 11 warehouses during her 14-month tenure, according to two media reports. Only about $1 billion was spent on the program before Noem's departure, according to two media reports. Many acquired warehouses faced challenges including improper zoning, lack of plumbing, and strong local opposition, according to two media reports. A $129 million purchase in Roxbury, New Jersey, and a $70 million site in Surprise, Arizona, were halted or sued over environmental concerns, according to two media reports. A $145.4 million warehouse in Salt Lake City, Utah, was tax-assessed at $97 million, suggesting overpayment, according to two media reports.
The Maryland lawsuit is one of three pending in federal court, according to two media reports. Officials elsewhere have tried to block warehouse conversions by arguing that water and sewage infrastructure is inadequate, according to two media reports. DHS said in a statement that it strongly disagrees with the preliminary injunction ruling, according to two media reports. In a court filing, the federal government said ICE is reconsidering the plans and scope of the warehouse, according to two media reports. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the preliminary injunction a major and welcome step forward, according to two media reports. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said the ruling proves that no one, not even the federal government, is above the law, according to two media reports.
If you open up that water meter, it gives them full access to the entire supply of the whole city. I can't let that happen without knowing what the ultimate impact is going to be.
Washington County commissioners approved a proclamation declaring unwavering support for DHS and ICE, according to major media. The county forwarded the proclamation to then-Secretary Noem along with a list of needed infrastructure upgrades worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to major media. The federal government has spent a total of $1.074 billion for 11 warehouses under the plan, according to major media.
According to BBC News, Social Circle resident Gareth Fenley described that people have different reasons for aligning with the same message: detention center, not welcome here. City Manager Eric Taylor told BBC News that opening the water meter would give full access to the entire city water supply, and he cannot let that happen without knowing the ultimate impact. Conservative resident John Miller told BBC News that residents are anxious to see what happens out of the review, noting that the building has already been purchased so there will be effects no matter what. Miller also said they are still whispering up the chain to give input if the review is indeed happening. According to The Independent, Patrick Dattilio described the Maryland facility as a facility built for packages, not people.
Residents in Social Circle are cautiously optimistic about the review, according to major media. The status of the warehouse plan review remains uncertain: while DHS is reviewing the plan under new leadership and has paused further purchases, ICE has signed a $113 million renovation contract for the Maryland warehouse and work was ongoing until halted by a court, indicating a potential contradiction between a genuine pause and a temporary setback.