Residents of Surprise, Arizona, are voicing significant concerns regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) plan to convert a 418,000-square-foot warehouse into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing and detention facility. The proposed site, located near the intersection of Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road, is approximately 300 yards from residential neighborhoods and about a mile from Dysart High School, which has a student population that is over 60% Hispanic.
Community members have raised issues about the facility’s proximity to homes and schools, potential impacts on property values, and the strain it may place on local resources. At a recent city council meeting, over 80 residents expressed their opposition, emphasizing the lack of prior notification and public consultation by federal authorities. Mayor Kevin Sartor acknowledged the community’s concerns but noted that the city has limited jurisdiction over federal projects.
In response to the community’s outcry, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding answers about the facility’s intended use and its potential effects on the local community. The letter posed ten detailed questions covering impacts to local schools, traffic, noise, water supply, waste disposal, medical care for detainees, and strain on municipal fire, law enforcement, and emergency services.
Further escalating the issue, Attorney General Mayes filed a lawsuit against DHS and ICE, alleging that the agencies failed to conduct the necessary environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before proceeding with the facility. The lawsuit aims to halt the project’s development until proper assessments and community consultations are conducted.
Local students have also expressed apprehension. Elijah Perez-Cardona, an 18-year-old senior at Dysart High School, shared his fears about the facility’s impact on daily routines and the potential for increased scrutiny of Hispanic students. “Each day when I drive to school and pass that facility, I worry that I’m going to be stopped by an agent just for being Hispanic,” he said.
Despite the mounting opposition, DHS has proceeded with the project, awarding a $313 million contract to private company GardaWorld to renovate and operate the site. The lack of transparency and community engagement has fueled further distrust among residents, who continue to seek avenues to voice their concerns and halt the facility’s development.