In a development that has sent ripples through communities in Georgia and Pennsylvania, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has finalized the purchase of multiple large warehouse properties with plans to convert them into sprawling immigration detention centers—an expansion that has ignited fierce debate over transparency, local input, and the strain on small-town resources.
On February 8, 2026, officials in Social Circle, Georgia, announced that ICE had completed the purchase of a massive property and warehouse at 1365 E. Hightower Trail. According to city statements reported by 11Alive, the transaction had been in escrow as of February 4, 2026, with Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and his staff informing local officials that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was moving forward with the site as its preferred location for a new immigration detention facility. The site, which could house between 5,000 and 10,000 people ahead of deportations, is expected to begin housing detainees as early as April 2026.
The scale of the proposed facility is remarkable for a city of just 5,000 residents. Social Circle Mayor David Keener told 11Alive last month, "If you put that many people here, you obviously will have to house other support facilities. We would have to have more police officers. The sheriff's department would probably have to help us with that... basically, citizens of Social Circle do not want this. Our city council opposes this as well."
City officials have expressed grave concerns about the region’s infrastructure, which they say simply cannot support such an influx. In a December 31 Facebook post, the city called the proposal "infeasible," citing insufficient water and sewer capacity for a structure that would effectively triple the population. Safety is also a major worry—the city maintains that there is no site within its boundaries "that will provide a safe distance from homes, businesses and schools" and that it "would not tolerate a failure in security."
Despite the magnitude of the project and its potential impact, Social Circle officials say they have not been consulted in the evaluation or planning process. They have formally requested more information, including a detailed timeline, but as of early February, have not received answers. Homeland Security has conducted engineering evaluations of city utilities and is preparing economic impact reports, but these have not been finalized or shared with the city, according to local statements.
The property in question was previously owned by PNK and had originally been proposed as a 1.3-million-square-foot industrial warehouse and a 1-million-square-foot distribution center by logistics company Longleaf in 2022. As reported by The Walton Tribune, residents objected to that plan as well, but the shift to a detention facility has brought even more intense opposition. At a recent town hall, Social Circle residents packed the room to voice their concerns, echoing the city council’s formal opposition.
Social Circle is not alone in facing these sudden changes. On February 9, 2026, it was reported that ICE finalized the purchase of a 62-acre property at 3501 Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, for $87.4 million. The property includes a 527,000-square-foot warehouse formerly known as the Hamburg Logistics Center, situated just north of Interstate 78 and a half-mile from an Amazon fulfillment center. According to Bloomberg News, this site is one of 23 nationwide identified for warehouse-based immigration detention centers, each capable of holding up to 1,500 people.
The reaction from local officials in Pennsylvania has been one of surprise and confusion. Upper Bern Township Solicitor Andrew Hoffman stated, "The township was not involved in this transfer and has not received any applications from either the prior or new owners regarding the future use of the property. The township has no further comment on this matter at this time." Township, county, and state officials all confirmed they were unaware of the sale until after it was finalized and have no information on ICE's intended use of the property. No applications or plans have been submitted to local authorities regarding the facility as of early February 2026.
A similar scenario is playing out in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where a former distribution center is expected to be converted into an ICE processing facility for between 500 and 1,500 people. Again, local officials report being left in the dark about the details and timeline of the federal government’s plans.
The trend of converting large, unused warehouses into detention centers appears to be part of a broader federal strategy. According to Bloomberg News, these facilities are being established across the country, including in states such as Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Louisiana, Arizona, Utah, Michigan, Maryland, and Florida. The expansion—designed to increase the country’s detention capacity—has sparked protests and legislative pushback in many affected communities.
In Social Circle, the sense of powerlessness is palpable. City Manager Eric Taylor told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Despite the federal supremacy, they’re subject to local zoning regulations, but there is not any local law that can apply and prevent the government from moving forward." He added that the city has not received any detailed plans or applications regarding the facility’s operation, leaving local leaders and residents to speculate about the impact on their community.
Nationally, the use of warehouse-based detention centers has become increasingly controversial. Critics argue that such facilities can overwhelm small-town infrastructure, disrupt local economies, and raise serious questions about civil rights and oversight. Supporters, however, contend that expanding detention capacity is necessary to enforce immigration laws and manage the growing number of people awaiting deportation proceedings.
For now, both Social Circle and Upper Bern Township are left in limbo, awaiting more information from federal authorities. City officials in Georgia have pledged to continue seeking verified information and to share updates with the public as they become available. In Pennsylvania, local leaders remain wary, with some expressing frustration at the lack of transparency and the potential for significant changes to their rural communities.
As the federal government moves forward with its plans, the experiences of Social Circle and Upper Bern Township highlight the tensions that can arise when local communities are left out of the loop on decisions with far-reaching consequences. The coming months will likely see continued debate—and perhaps legal or legislative action—as residents and officials grapple with the realities of hosting large-scale immigration detention centers in their backyards.
Whether these new facilities will ultimately proceed as planned, or face further resistance from local communities and lawmakers, remains to be seen. But for the residents of Social Circle and Berks County, the story is already reshaping the fabric of their towns in ways that few could have anticipated.