DHS converts Arizona warehouse into detention facility

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) purchased a warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, in late January with plans to convert it into an immigration processing center. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will operate the facility as a detention processing center with about 1,500 beds as part of its effort to expand detention capacity.

The purchase has sparked controversy, with more than 1,000 residents attending a Surprise City Council meeting to voice concerns about the facility.

Salvatierra Law Group attorney, Delia Salvatierra, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss potential legal issues surrounding the facility.

“The Supremacy clause of the Constitution allows the federal government to come in, and use land in any way that sees fit, that is lawful,” Salvatierra said, “…since the federal government has plenary power over immigration, it can certainly use it as a detention center, as it plans to do so.”

While much of this is still speculation, the federal government is calling this new facility a processing center. The closest processing center already established in Arizona lies an hour outside of Phoenix in Florence, Arizona.

“It is a facility owned and operated by the Department of Homeland Security,” Salvatierra explained, “…and it is where approximately a thousand individuals are detained at any given time…and inside that facility, there is an immigration court that is solely for those that are detained at that facility.”

Salvatierra emphasized how there has been little transparency from the Department of Homeland Security.

“Normally the federal government doesn’t swoop in and usurp a state voice in these kinds of matters,” Salvatierra said, “…they take the state into consideration, especially local partners.”

According to Salvatierra, she believes this plan, and the way they acquired this property without any state involvement, decries basic conservative values.