ICE plans to use Surprise warehouse as detention facility

After weeks of speculation about how a 400,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, would be used, newly released documents confirm it will be retrofitted as a detention center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The facility could house 7,000 to 10,000 detainees for months at a time, far more than previously known. It is located on the far-eastern southern side of the city on Dysart Road and Sweetwater.

Kevin Sartor, mayor of Surprise, joined us to discuss the latest developments.

“That’s one of the reasons why I sent a letter to the DHS secretary,” Sartor said, “…just to get some answers.”

Sartor had learned through mainly media reports that the DHS, Department of Homeland Security, had purchased the facility back in late January.

“It’s probably gonna be closer to the 1,500-bed center,” Sartor explained, “…more of a processing center…we are really just trying to start dialogue with homeland security…if something happens out of that facility, we wanna make sure what’s going on.”

What most concerns the city is being able to provide its services and assist its residents’ needs while homeland security is operating out of the facility. Generally, when a private entity comes into Surprise, the local government does what it can to assist them throughout the process.

“…but because it’s the federal government, a federal facility,” Sartor said, “…they have that federal supremacy clause that…supersede anything the city or state has.”

The only information Sartor and his colleagues have received regarding operations inside the facility came from the Federal elected officials.

“It can be frustrating, but again it’s the federal government,” Sartor discussed, “…I think for me it’s about being a good partner. They’re gonna operate there, how does the city of Surprise better plan and prepare for what they’re gonna be doing in our city…make sure we’re maintaining safety for our residents.”