Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is backing a bill that would require local approval before the Federal government can open ICE detention facilities, like in Social Circle.
Sen. Ossoff recently cosponsored the Respect for Local Communities Act, which would require the Federal government to secure written approval from state and local governments before opening new ICE detention or processing facilities.
The bill, first introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), would prevent the Federal government from beginning the construction, acquisition, or renovation of any new ICE detention or processing centers without securing consent from local officials and meeting certain requirements, including conducting and making public engineering, environmental, economic impact assessments.
The bill would also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify relevant Congressional committees before moving forward with plans and require a public comment period.
“For months, the Social Circle community has been clear in its opposition to this administration’s proposed ICE detention facility, which local leaders have warned risks overwhelming the city’s infrastructure,” Sen. Ossoff said. “Yet despite clear local opposition, this administration’s plans and intentions have been shrouded in secrecy without any local input. This bill will require the Federal government to get local agreement before building such facilities.”
“Our community remains strongly opposed to ICE’s proposed detention facility, which risks overwhelming our infrastructure and more than tripling our population. ICE and DHS’ failures to communicate with us about these plans has made the situation even worse and created months of havoc,” said Social Circle Mayor David Keener. “We’re grateful to Senator Ossoff for his continued opposition to this project and for his support of this Federal legislation that would ensure our community has a voice in this process and cannot be ignored.”
Sen. Ossoff has been pushing back against the ICE detention facility in Social Circle since plans for its construction were first reported.
In January, alongside Social Circle Mayor David Keener and local leaders, Sen. Ossoff elevated the City’s concerns directly to former U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, urging them to promptly engage the City’s leadership with more information on the reported plans.
Last month, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock launched an additional inquiry with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to again urge that DHS abandon its plans and to amplify the Social Circle community’s objections to the facility.
Click here to read the Respect for Local Communities Act.
# # #
