AZ Political Podcast: Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor on ICE facility frustrations, band dad life

Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor can’t do anything to stop the ICE migrant detention facility that’s scheduled to open in his city this year. That’s because the federal government does what it wants when it wants. Frustratingly for Sartor, many people are insisting the city use its limited funds to sue the feds to stop it.

But what’s really frustrating is the little bit that he has been able to do to mitigate the negative effects the facility could have on Surprise (effects that many who support ICE’s mission acknowledge) are far from finalized. What DHS has told Sartor the finalized function of the facility will be could best be described as non-guaranteed semi-assurances.

Not only are they not written in stone, they were barely written in sand two minutes before high tide.

What did ICE agree to?

And Sartor is fully aware that the Department of Homeland Security could renege on anything they’ve told him, like: only 542 migrants will be held there — as opposed to the 1500 DHS originally proposed; DHS will pay Surprise $300,000 to offset the loss of private tax dollars; a “cost recovery” mechanism will be hammered out for police, fire and EMS responses to the facility; and cooperation with a community relations board.

We don’t just talk ICE on the podcast, however (something I suggested should be banned at his family’s dinner table). We also discuss how he got into public service (after serving in the U.S. Army), if he has any other political plans beyond the municipal kind, and even delving into what it’s like being a #BandDad (and even what instruments his daughters play).

I really enjoyed getting to know Mayor Kevin Sartor and I think you’ll be surprised how much you will too. (Sorry — I had to get one pun in there.)

The AZ Political Podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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