South Georgia is not a dumping ground for mass detention.

Charlton County is set to become home to the largest immigrant detention center in the country—a nearly 3,000-bed facility under a $47 million federal contract. But bigger isn't better when it comes to locking up families, asylum seekers, and long-term U.S. residents.

We’re told this is about “border security.” But Georgia isn’t a border state. This project is about mass incarceration, profit, and political gain—not public safety.

The expansion of the D. Ray James facility will bring more than 2,000 new beds for immigrant detention to a rural community with limited oversight, no nearby legal services, and little infrastructure to support humane conditions. These centers have been documented hotspots for abuse, neglect, and prolonged confinement without trial.

While the city of Folkston is promised $600,000 in utility revenue and “400 jobs,” what’s being built is not economic development—it’s a massive deportation machine. Communities like Folkston should not be forced to trade long-term justice for short-term income.

Georgia residents deserve a say in whether their communities become hubs for mass incarceration. We’re calling on state and local leaders to stop this expansion, hold public hearings, and invest in jobs and development that lift people up—not lock them away.

Sign if you believe Georgia should lead with humanity, not cages. 

[Josh Dawsey/The Washington Post via AP, Pool]