Overview
- City leaders installed a lock on the warehouse’s utility meter after an ICE representative inquired about opening a water account, saying it will stay until ICE shows how usage will not exceed local capacity.
- DHS documents describe a proposed facility holding 7,500 to 10,000 detainees, with an estimated intake window between mid-May and June, staffing of 2,000 to 2,500, and average stays of about 60 days.
- Social Circle reports a water withdrawal permit of 1 million gallons per day but a sewer plant limited to 660,000 gallons per day that is already at capacity, with a larger plant discussed but no timeline provided.
- Federal materials assert the design would avoid adverse infrastructure impacts with on-site wastewater mitigation, a claim the city says lacks sufficient detail to be credible.
- Oakwood in Hall County has asked DHS to pause a separate 1,500-inmate site pending more information, while an ICE spokesperson has promoted potential job and GDP gains; ICE did not provide comment on the utility lock.