Social Circle Officials Seek Details as Possible ICE Detention Facility Near Atlanta Advances Toward April Opening

Proposed conversion of a million-square-foot warehouse draws scrutiny from local and federal officials

Plans to establish a large U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Social Circle, about 45 miles east of Atlanta, are moving closer to a potential opening within months, according to accounts provided by city leaders following discussions with federal representatives.

City officials said they were informed that a warehouse property at 1365 E. Hightower Trail is in escrow and progressing toward a potential purchase by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The building, marketed as a newly built logistics facility exceeding 1 million square feet, has been tied by local officials to the only site within the city that appears to meet the scale described in federal planning documents for high-capacity detention facilities.

Social Circle leaders said they have requested that federal representatives provide written documentation of the information shared, including a specific timeline. They were told that detainee housing could begin as early as April 2026, a timeframe that has intensified concerns about the speed of planning and the city’s limited ability to prepare for a facility of that magnitude.

Local leaders say they have not been consulted

City leadership has maintained that it has not been asked for or provided input on the proposed facility. The mayor and city manager have publicly opposed the idea, describing it as unworkable for a small municipality with a population under 5,000 and limited public safety staffing and utility capacity.

Officials have repeatedly cited infrastructure constraints, focusing on water and sewer demands that would accompany a large detention operation. They have also raised emergency-response concerns given the city’s distance from major hospitals and the additional security requirements such a facility could generate.

• Location under discussion: 1365 E. Hightower Trail, Social Circle
• Facility concept described by local leaders: a detention center potentially holding thousands of people
• Earliest operational estimate shared with city leaders: April 2026

Property owner signals uncertainty about the final buyer

The property is owned by an entity associated with PNK Group, a New York City-based industrial developer. In a statement provided to Atlanta-area media, the company said the building is being offered for sale and that multiple potential buyers have expressed interest, while emphasizing that any future use would be determined by the eventual purchaser and subject to required local review and approval processes.

Federal attention grows as questions mount

The proposal has drawn attention from Georgia’s congressional delegation. U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and Social Circle’s mayor issued a joint public call urging federal officials to abandon the plan, arguing that it risks overwhelming local resources. Ossoff has also sought direct answers from top Department of Homeland Security and ICE leadership about the reported project.

Social Circle officials have asked federal representatives for written clarification on project status, scope, and expected operational timelines.

As of early February 2026, key details remain unresolved publicly, including whether a federal purchase has been finalized, what capacity is planned, what contractors would operate the site, and how oversight, medical services, and transportation logistics would be handled if the facility becomes operational.