The new, old jail on Gainesville’s Main Street should be boarding its first guests since its makeover any day now.

Officials with the Corrections Corp. of America were purposely vague on when exactly the recently-renamed North Georgia Detention Center would begin taking in federal immigration detainees, citing security concerns.

"Mid-July is as much a time-frame as we’re willing to say," CCA spokeswoman Louise Grant said. "We don’t want to give a precise date on the transfer of inmates to a facility."

The private prison company is paying Hall County $2 million a year to lease the facility, which served as the Hall County Jail from 1982 until the new jail off Candler Highway was completed in 2007. The company poured $4 million in renovations into the lockup, including new office space for federal immigrations officials.

The detention center is employing 160 people, the "vast majority" of them local hires, Grant said. Company officials have said the annual payroll will be $7.5 million.

Assistant Warden Charlie Peterson said only about 20 employees transferred from other CCA facilities.

The first "graduating class" of detention officers completed its academy training two weeks ago, Grant said.

"Everything is moving along according to schedule," she said. "We are just waiting for the detainees."

Assistant Warden Charlie Peterson said Friday, "We feel good about where we are, as far as preparations."

The privately-operated detention center will house as many as 500 people who have been
detained by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for entering the country illegally.

Most will come from North Carolina, though some will be transferred from the Hall County Jail. Officials say the average detainee will be at the facility from 30 to 90 days while being processed for deportation.

Company officials say the facility will house low and medium security detainees, but no maximum security detainees.

The old jail’s new use has not been without controversy. Gainesville city officials said they were disappointed that the building would continue to be ringed with razor wire in an area of midtown they hope to see revitalized.

The city had an option to buy the county-owned property but a contract was never signed.

Earlier this year, city officials halted inspections and refused to issue building permit for renovations at the facility, but later relented "in the spirit of moving forward."

The city has also refused to sign an agreement to provide police assistance to the county-owned facility in the event of an emergency.