OAKWOOD, GA. — The city manager of Oakwood in Hall County said he is somewhat encouraged that the Department of Homeland Security is pausing the purchase of warehouses to be converted into immigrant detention centers.
Earlier this year, DHS bought two large warehouses in Oakwood to temporally house 1,500 detainees -- more than the population of the Hall County Detention Center.
“It’s surrounded on three sides by residential development. And these facilities were designed to be warehouses; they’re not designed for habitation, whether it be a detention facility or something else,” Oakwood City Manager B.R. White said.
White told Channel 2’s Tom Regan that Oakwood doesn’t have the infrastructure to support a large detention facility, especially when it comes to sewage capacity.
He said he would like to meet with newly confirmed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who stated in his confirmation hearing that he wanted to “work with community leaders” and be “good partners.”
“I hope that he will follow through with his comments and sit down and talk to us so we can explain all the impacts it’s going to have on the city of Oakwood,” White said.
In addition to pausing acquisition of warehouses for detention centers, officials said previous contracts signed under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem would be reviewed.
Many residents and business owners oppose construction of a large detention center.
That includes the manager of an Italian restaurant directly across the street from the warehouse facility.
“I think it’s a terrible place. There’s too many small businesses locally that are within walking distance to it. It will deter customers,” restaurant manager Clancy Alpern said.
Others in the community support the purpose of immigrant facilities but question the location in the town of Oakwood.
“I’m kind of for it and against it. It’s a small town. It probably should be somewhere further out,” one person told Regan.
The city manager said DHS paid about $68 million dollars for the property, which he estimates is 20% to 30% higher than fair market value.
He also said the city would lose over $760,000 a year in property tax revenue it would have collected had the warehouse been purchased commercially.
He also said despite the pause, he believes the detention facility ultimately will be built.
“We’re acting as if it’s going to go through until we receive word they are abolishing the program. But I don’t think they will,” White said.
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