City of Surprise sends letter asking DHS to follow state statutes, local zoning laws

The City of Surprise sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security asking the agency to ensure its activities at a planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the city comply with state and local laws.

In the brief letter, dated May 5, addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the Surprise City Council requested that DHS operations at its new facility, on Sweetwater Ave. follow Arizona laws, the city’s zoning regulations and other local ordinances.

“The City of Surprise, Arizona, respectfully requests that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ensure all activities within the City’s jurisdiction for the building located at 13290 W Sweetwater Avenue comply with applicable Arizona Revised Statutes, as well as the Surprise Municipal Zoning Regulations and other local ordinances.”

–  May 5 letter from Suprise City Council to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin

The letter did not specify what spurred the letter or detail any alleged violations.

State and city are taking action to stop ICE facility

The letter comes amid mounting local opposition to the federal government’s plan to convert the 418,000-square-foot warehouse into an ICE detention facility capable of holding up to 1,500 people.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sued DHS last month to block the project, arguing the agency skipped required environmental reviews and chose an unsafe industrial site.

Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor has said the city lacks legal grounds to stop the facility, which DHS purchased for $70 million in January.

DHS previously agreed to pay $300,000 to the City of Surprise to offset lost revenue from their takeover of the space.

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