Surprise mayor wishes DHS would provide ‘liaison’ so city is updated on ICE facility

PHOENIX — Navigating the process of preparing residents for the upcoming ICE detention facility in Surprise has been challenging due to a lack of clear communication from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to the city’s mayor.

“We’re still trying to get information,” Kevin Sartor told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Monday.

From the start, city officials have been left out of the loop about ICE’s plan to create a detention facility out of a 418,000-square-foot warehouse at 13290 W. Sweetwater Ave., near Dysart and Thunderbird roads. The ICE detention center would house around 1,500 people.

“I don’t know what happens at the federal level and what the Trump administration — DHS — does, and if they’re trying to keep it more secretive — I don’t know if that’s the right word — but keep it tighter-lipped until it rolled out, so they didn’t have opposition,” Sartor said. “From the local side, it would have been, I think, a lot better to have the information and to help navigate that process with our residents.”

Sartor said they first learned about the facility through social media, with news reports later confirming it. That pattern of limited transparency continued, making it difficult for the city to plan effectively.

“They were potentially going to do it; then we found out the location; then we found out the purchase was finalized, so (we were) getting all this information just a little bit at a time,” he said. “I’d really like to have a liaison, somebody (who) talks to either our police chief, our city manager, somebody that has that direct contact.”

Surprise mayor hopes new DHS secretary will be more cooperative

Sartor said he hopes communication will improve once Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma becomes Homeland Security Secretary on March 31, replacing Kristi Noem.

“Maybe with the new secretary, (we) might get some more information,” Sartor said.

He emphasized that his role is nonpartisan, so he represents everyone in the city, from protesters to enthusiastic ICE supporters.

“There are some residents that are 100% on board. They say, ‘Let’s bring them in. Let’s do it!’ And then, you go to our council meetings and there’s a thousand people outside protesting, there’s a hundred people inside talking about how they don’t want it,” Sartor said.

But his role means he’s responsible for informing residents about how the facility will impact emergency services, property values and water and sewage systems.

“We talk about government transparency at the local level, nonpartisan, we try to get as much information or budget all those things out,” he said.

However, being transparent with citizens is difficult when he isn’t fully informed.

“If there’s something that were to happen, how are we going to respond?” Sartor said. “A couple weekends ago … somebody broke the window and threw a propane tank, and our police and fire were the first ones in. I mean, the Feds came in very quickly and took over the investigation, but we are the first ones to respond. It’s in our city.”

Related

Local officials were unaware of ICE detention facility plans in West ValleyArizona leaders send letters to DHS Sec. Kristi Noem regarding proposed West Valley ICE facilityResidents at Surprise City Council meeting voice opposition of ICE detention centerFBI investigating shooting at ICE field office in PhoenixUS Marshals rescue missing Arizona girl; 2 suspects taken into ICE custodyRep. Greg Stanton calls DHS warehouse purchases ‘a joke’ amid Surprise ICE facility pause