Arizona Democrats seek answers from DHS, ICE on West Valley detention facility contractor

PHOENIX — Arizona’s three U.S. House Democrats want answers about the security contractor reportedly selected by the Department of Homeland Security to run the planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in the West Valley.

The Washington Post reported Monday that DHS awarded GardaWorld Federal Services a contract of at least $313.4 million to operate the Surprise ICE facility.

Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva sent two letters Wednesday questioning the deal, one addressed to outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and the other to GardaWorld President Pete Dordal Jr.

It’s the second time Stanton, Ansari and Grijalva questioned federal officials about the planned Surprise ICE facility, following a Feb. 5 letter.

“Once again, DHS leaves Arizonans in the dark, awarding a massive contract to a firm with no experience in detention center oversight,” Stanton said in a joint press release Thursday. “This is Trump’s mass deportation agenda at work, and none of this makes our community safer or more prosperous — just the opposite.”

Other Arizona leaders, including Attorney General Kris Mayes and U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, also have demanded answers about the West Valley project.

Where is the proposed Surprise ICE facility?

The address of proposed Surprise ICE facility is 13290 W. Sweetwater Ave., near Dysart and Thunderbird roads. Once converted, it is expected to hold about 1,500 beds.

DHS reportedly paid $70 million in cash for the 418,000-square-foot warehouse on Jan. 23.

It is part of a wider Trump administration initiative to increase ICE detention capacity.

What is in letters about reported contract for Surprise ICE facility?

In their new letter to DHS and ICE leaders, Stanton, Ansari and Grijalva said the decision to convert a warehouse into a large-scale detention facility on an expedited timeframe raises questions about GardaWorld’s qualifications.

They noted that the company has never been directly contracted to oversee a detention facility and expressed concern that the contract was awarded through a Department of Defense procurement system rather than through the typical bidding process.

“At a time when in-custody deaths are reaching record highs, it is deeply alarming that DHS is handing out massive federal contracts to companies with no experience operating detention facilities,” Grijalva said in the release.

On Monday, Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show that city officials have been left in the dark about plans for the facility.

“Arizonans are fed up with ICE terrorizing our communities and they don’t want to see yet another detention center here in Arizona, especially not one in a hastily converted warehouse, run by an unqualified contractor, that is being built with no input from the local community,” Ansari said in the release.

The DHS/ICE letter concludes with 17 questions, with the following concerns among the topics:

• A cost breakdown of the total contract value as well as the performance standards, contract milestones and penalty provisions built into the contract.
• When the facility is expected to open and how oversight and day-to-day operations will be handled.
• How the warehouse was assessed to determine it was suitable, and what is being done to ensure it meets federal, state and local codes and standards?
• Information about the facility’s impact on traffic and nearby residential neighborhoods and schools.
• How DHS will ensure adequate access to emergency services and handle costs associated with increased service demands related to the facility.

The lawmakers’ letter to GardaWorld’s president included similar concerns but had a different set of question topics geared toward the security contractor, such as:

• The company’s prior experience in designing, construction, renovating or operating detention facilities.
• Proof that it has the internal capacity to manage the contract and whether it plans to use subcontractors.
• Quality-control and oversight protocols to ensure detention standards and safety requirements are met.
• The maximum planned detention capacity and contingencies if that number is exceeded.
• Safety measures to protect the surrounding community and maintaining ongoing communication with local officials, emergency responders and residents.

Both letters requested written responses within 15 business days of receipt.

KTAR News Senior Web Content Editor Kevin Stone contributed to this report.

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