(USA TODAY) – Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) has joined a bipartisan push for the government to get local government approval and public comment before constructing ICE processing or detention facilities, such as the ones announced for Oakwood and Social Circle.
Sen. Ossoff recently announced his support of the Respect for Local Communities Act. It would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from building, acquiring, or operating new ICE processing or detention sites without a public comment period, a signed agreement with state and local officials, and advance notice to Congress.
Officials in Oakwood and Social Circle have said they’ve had little success in communicating with DHS for information about the centers and formally express their concerns as well as those of their citizens.
There is a pause in planning for the facilities, though, as the new DHS Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, goes over policies of the former head of the department.
