Arizona leaders send letters to DHS Sec. Kristi Noem regarding proposed West Valley ICE facility

PHOENIX — Some of Arizona’s top Democrats are joining the public outcry over a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Surprise.

Among them is Attorney General Kris Mayes, who sent Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem a letter on Monday demanding answers about the potential conversion of a 418,000-square-foot warehouse into a processing and detention facility for ICE with room for 1,500 detainees.

“Prior to the starting any construction or operational activities, DHS must answer basic questions about the use of the facility and its impacts upon the local community,” Mayes said in the letter.

She said the land for the proposed ICE detention center sits just 300 yards from residential homes, as well as around a mile from a high school with a student population that is over 60% Hispanic.

Mayes also challenged Noem to answer 10 questions about how the facility would impact local schools, traffic, noise, water supply, waste disposal, medical care for detainees as well as local emergency services. She wants those answers no later than Feb. 17.

Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego concerned about ICE detention center in Surprise

On Tuesday, U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego challenged the ICE detention center plans in Surprise on environmental grounds.

In a letter to both Noem and Todd Lyons, who serves as ICE’s acting director, they argued that an environmental assessment should be conducted to ensure the city of Surprise fully understands the way the detention center would impact water resources, utilities and traffic.

“Given the sheer size of the planned facilities, the aggressive schedule for opening them, and the complete lack of transparency associated with the planning process, the department’s approach raises serious concerns about whether these projects have had sufficient planning and environmental review to proceed,” the senators wrote.

Meanwhile, the Surprise City Council on Wednesday afternoon voted to have Mayor Kevin Sartor send a letter to the Department of Homeland Security requesting information and clarification about its plans for the warehouse.

Where would the proposed ICE detention center be?

The address of the property is 13290 W. Sweetwater Ave., near Dysart and Thunderbird roads. Dysart Road in that area is the boundary between Surprise and El Mirage.

In late January, the city of Surprise stated that they had not been notified by DHS and were unaware of the proposal to convert the warehouse into an ICE facility.

Shortly thereafter, around 150 residents attended a Surprise City Council meeting to voice their opposition to the ICE detention center.

Additionally, several Arizona Congress members have sought information from DHS, including Republican Rep. Paul Gosar and Democratic Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva.

Last week, Stanton, Ansari and Grijalva sent a letter to Noem and Lyons. They asked the two officials to answer 10 questions concerning a variety of topics, including:

• Community impact, if DHS and ICE provided advance notice to local jurisdictions.
• The purpose of the facility and the operational footprint.
• The internal review process before paying around $70 million in taxpayer funds to purchase the property.

Stanton has said on social media that ICE’s purchase of the facility without consulting local leaders is “wrong.”

“Our community deserves better,” Stanton said.

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