WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D–Ga.) unveiled a legislative amendment this week aimed at blocking federal funds from being used to establish new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in the Georgia communities of Social Circle and Oakwood, a move he says reflects the will of residents across the state.
Warnock’s amendment, filed Feb. 13 as part of a continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), would prohibit any federal dollars from being used to acquire, construct, renovate, or expand ICE detention centers in the two cities unless Congress explicitly authorizes such action. It would also require that any facility intended for the detention of noncitizens be subject to full environmental and inspection requirements, including a comprehensive environmental impact statement.
“The people of Georgia want secure borders; they do not want massive immigration detention centers in their backyards,” Warnock said in a statement announcing the amendment. “If the federal government focused on removing violent criminals from our communities, we would not need new detention centers that strain our rural towns and their limited infrastructure.”
Responding to Local Concerns
The legislative action comes amid mounting concern from residents and local officials in Social Circle and Oakwood, where plans have emerged to convert large warehouse properties into migrant detention centers. In Social Circle, the site under consideration could house up to 10,000 people, a figure that would far exceed the town’s current population and raise questions about local resources, including water, sewer and emergency services.
Officials in both towns have said they were not adequately consulted before news of the federal plans leaked to the public — a lapse that underscored the broader argument from Warnock and other critics that local voices have been sidelined in decisions with potentially large community impacts.
Warnock’s amendment is designed not only to stop funding for construction but to ensure community input and proper oversight before any such facility moves forward, supporters say.
Broader Implications
The proposal has drawn support from civic leaders who have long argued that small towns should not be burdened with large detention operations without clear benefits or safeguards. Advocates note that rural communities often lack the infrastructure to support facilities of this size, which could place additional strain on local services and economies already operating on tight budgets.
Warnock’s move also places him at the forefront of a national debate over immigration enforcement and how federal resources are used. It aligns with his broader record of pushing for accountability, transparency and protections for communities in federal decision-making.
Allen Silent as Debate Grows
While several Georgia lawmakers have weighed in on Senator Warnock’s amendment, U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.), whose 12th Congressional District includes Augusta and much of east-central Georgia, has not publicly taken a position on the proposal.
A review of recent statements, press releases, and public communications from Allen’s office shows no comment addressing either Warnock’s amendment or the proposed ICE detention centers in Social Circle and Oakwood.
Allen’s silence stands in contrast to other members of Georgia’s congressional delegation. Senator Jon Ossoff has voiced opposition to the Social Circle facility, and Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican, has acknowledged infrastructure concerns raised by local officials, even while supporting federal immigration enforcement in principle.
Advocates on both sides of the issue say Allen’s position could carry weight, particularly in communities like Augusta, where immigration enforcement, federal spending, and local government transparency have become increasingly visible political issues ahead of the election.
What Comes Next
The amendment awaits consideration as lawmakers negotiate a broader spending agreement for DHS. If adopted, it would immediately block federal dollars from being used to move forward with the contested detention sites — effectively putting those plans on hold unless Congress explicitly authorizes them.
As the debate continues in Washington, many Georgia residents and local leaders are watching closely, hopeful that the amendment will ensure a voice for communities that say they have been largely left out of federal planning discussions.
