🚨 Stop work order in effect. AG lawsuit pending. DHS missed the senators' May 1 response deadline. Next Surprise City Council meeting: Tuesday, May 19, 6:00 PM.
🚨 STOP WORK ORDER IN EFFECT. AG LAWSUIT PENDING. DHS MISSED THE SENATORS' MAY 1 DEADLINE. At Mesa Gateway, DHS promised capacity was 157. Actual daily average in 2026: 274. Peak: 777. The same DHS is promising Surprise a 542-bed cap. Next council meeting: Tuesday, May 19, 6:00 PM.

Stop the ICE Detention Facility in Surprise

The stop work order remains in effect. The AG's federal lawsuit is pending. DHS did not respond to the senators' May 1 deadline. Meanwhile, at Mesa Gateway Airport, a DHS facility rated for 157 people has held an average of 274 per day in 2026, peaking at 777. The same agency is making unenforceable promises to Surprise about a 542-bed cap. The facility is not open. The next Surprise City Council meeting is Tuesday, May 19.

8,000+Comments Filed Against
6+Sites Cancelled Nationwide
Days Until Next Council Meeting
542Beds Claimed (Was 1,500)
$700M+Taxpayer Cost
Take Action Now Contact Officials

Where to Start

Three paths through this site. Council votes are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.

New Here • 2-Minute Read

What Matters Now

The stop work order, the AG's lawsuit, and the three things any resident can do before the May 19 meeting. Everything you need in under two minutes.

Read the brief →
Following the Story

Latest News

Every documented development, with primary sources. Begins with Mesa Gateway overcrowding evidence and the stop work order, and works back through the full record.

Read the record →
Ready to Help

Take Action

Attend the May 19 meeting, submit a Call to the Public, email every councilmember by name, sign the student-led 3-Mile Buffer petition, or send the letter template. Every contact is on the record.

See what you can do →

🚨 Latest News

Most recent item: May 6, 2026

Tap any headline to expand or collapse

🚨 April 27–May 6, 2026: DHS Promised Mesa Facility Would Hold 157 People. Actual Peak: 777. Average in 2026: 274. Why This Matters for Surprise. ▼

At Mesa Gateway Airport, a DHS detention facility listed at a maximum capacity of 157 people has held an average of 274 per day in 2026, peaking at 777 in a single day. Mesa Fire found overcrowding so severe it issued a corrections list. DHS promised numbers would drop within a week. The next day, the population was 646. The same DHS is making unenforceable verbal promises to Surprise about a 542-bed cap at a facility seven times larger.

  • 📊 Arizona Mirror data analysis. The Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center at Mesa Gateway has a listed maximum capacity of 157 detainees. So far in 2026, the average daily population has been 274. One day it reached 777. In all of 2025, the average daily population for the same period was 21.
  • 🚨 Mesa Fire found conditions so severe it issued a corrections list. When firefighters responded to a medical call in late January, they found conditions requiring corrective action. ICE blamed a measles outbreak at another facility and promised the population would drop below 157 within a week. The next day the count was 646.
  • 🏢 Airport authority demands answers. Mesa Gateway Airport Authority Executive Director J. Brian O'Neill sent a letter on April 28 to the building's landlord, warning that overcrowding may violate both city fire codes and the facility's land lease.
  • 🚫 Mesa says it cannot enforce its own fire codes. The city of Mesa told the Arizona Mirror it is aware of concerns about overcrowding but said immigration enforcement and detention operations are federal responsibilities and not within the city's jurisdiction.
  • 📍 Why this matters for Surprise. DHS told Surprise the facility would hold a maximum of 542 beds. DHS told Mesa the facility would hold a maximum of 157. The Mesa facility peaked at nearly five times its stated capacity. No written, enforceable agreement limits Surprise to 542. The warehouse is physically sized for 1,500.

Sources: Arizona Mirror: Mesa Can't Enforce Its Own Fire Codes at ICE Facility (April 27, 2026) → | Arizona Mirror: Mesa Airport Warns ICE Facility Landlord (April 30, 2026) → | AZFamily: Concerns Grow Over Mesa Gateway ICE Facility (May 5, 2026) → | KJZZ: Mesa Gateway Authority Director Sends Letter (May 5, 2026) →

🗂️ Previous Updates

Take Action Now

Here's what matters most right now

1

Tuesday, May 19, 6:00 PM: Attend the Council Meeting. Demand More Than a Letter.

The May 5 meeting has passed. The next council meeting is May 19. Judd's proposed letter asks DHS to comply with local zoning. That is a request, not a resolution. Other cities have passed formal resolutions opposing facilities, withheld water hookups, and filed lawsuits. Surprise has done none of these. Show up and demand the council use every tool it has before October.

2

Sign the 3-Mile Buffer Petition

Dysart High School student body VP Cali Overs launched a petition calling on Congress to mandate a 3-mile safety buffer zone between ICE detention facilities and K-12 schools. She has met with the offices of Senators Kelly and Gallego and Rep. Gosar, spoke with AG Mayes, published an op-ed in the Phoenix New Times, and spoken at multiple council meetings. She is 17 years old and not affiliated with any political party. Her petition has over 1,500 verified signatures.

3

Demand Rinchem's Risk Management Plan Be Updated Before Any Construction Proceeds

The Rinchem chemical warehouse across the street stores chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, and fluorine. Its current risk management plan does not account for a detention facility holding hundreds to thousands of people who cannot self-evacuate. Rinchem has until June to update the plan. No detainee should be housed in a facility across the street from a hazmat site operating under an outdated emergency plan.

  • Contact city officials and demand they require an updated Rinchem risk management plan before any portion of the facility opens
  • Contact the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: azdeq.gov/contact-us
  • Contact EPA Region 9: epa.gov/region9
4

Support AG Mayes's Lawsuit: The State Has Now Filed in Federal Court

On April 24, AG Mayes sued DHS and ICE in federal court over the Surprise facility, alleging NEPA and INA violations. On April 15, a federal judge in Maryland granted a preliminary injunction halting a nearly identical warehouse-to-detention-facility conversion under the same NEPA theory. The Arizona suit follows that template. Contact her office in support of the action.

  • Contact AG Mayes: azag.gov →
  • Share updates with #NoICEinSurprise
5

Demand Gosar Release DHS's Written Response and the NEPA Results

Thank him for demanding transparency and push him to release any DHS written response publicly, including the withheld NEPA environmental survey results.

6

Contact Senators Kelly and Gallego: Their May 1 Deadline Passed. DHS Did Not Respond.

On April 16, Kelly and Gallego sent a formal letter to DHS Secretary Mullin demanding a halt to all detention expansion in Arizona, including Surprise and Marana. They set a May 1 response deadline. DHS has not responded to either their original February letter or the April follow-up. Two deadlines, zero responses. Thank them and push for follow-through: request an Inspector General investigation, hearings, or holds on DHS nominees.

7

Keep Spreading the Word

DHS said 1,500. Documents show up to 10,000 for months at a time. That's the story. Share it.

  • Share this page on Nextdoor, Facebook, community groups
  • Use #NoICEinSurprise on all platforms
  • Tell neighbors: "This is stoppable. Merrimack, NH just proved it again."
  • Contact your HOA and Legacy Traditional School PTA

✅ What the community has accomplished so far

✓

April 21 Council Meeting No Formal Vote. Letter Proposed.

Judd proposed a letter requesting DHS honor local zoning and Luke AFB restrictions. The city attorney blocked disclosure of the legal review. DHS confirmed the opening timeline is slipping past September. Public comment overwhelmingly opposed.

✓

April 7 Council Meeting 74 Speakers, Action Item Promised

74 public speakers, nearly all opposed. Council took no action (discussion item only). Judd committed to bringing a formal action item. 38 state legislators sent a letter demanding formal opposition.

✓

DC Trip: March 15–19 Meeting Secured, Promises Made

DHS made four verbal commitments: bed tax, facility tour, school/senior center protections, community board. None are in writing.

✓

February 18 Council Meeting Standing Room Only

Another packed crowd. City leaders confirmed they are still waiting for written answers from DHS.

✓

February 3 Council Meeting 1,000+ Showed Up

Over 1,000 residents packed City Hall. This meeting changed everything and forced responses from officials at every level of government.

What We Know

The documented facts about the proposed ICE facility

Location
13290 W Sweetwater Avenue
Building Size
418,400 sq ft on 24 acres
Purchase Price
$70,000,000 (cash)
Purchase Date
January 23, 2026
DHS Official Name
"Surprise Processing Site"
Stated Capacity
542 beds (revised March 31; original DHS documents cited 1,500-10,000)
Retrofit Cost
$150 million
3-Year Operating Cost
$180 million
Total Taxpayer Cost
$400M+ (beyond purchase)
DHS Target Opening
September 30, 2026
Operator
GardaWorld Federal Services ($313M contract, no detention experience)
Across the Street
Rinchem chemical warehouse (chlorine, HF acid, fluorine)
Est. Water Usage
~270,000 gal/day (city ordinance requires approval above 100,000)
City Notification
NONE (DHS Officially Confirmed)
DHS Written Answers to City
NONE (Still Waiting)

Nearby Sensitive Locations

☢️

Rinchem Chemical Warehouse

Directly across the street. Stores chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, and fluorine at levels that trigger federal risk planning requirements per EPA and ADEQ filings. A worst-case leak could require evacuation of half a mile to a mile. Detainees cannot self-evacuate. Rinchem's current risk management plan does not account for the detention facility.

🏫

Legacy Traditional School

on the same street at 14506 W Sweetwater Ave. K-8 school with 1,868 students just blocks away.

🎓

Dysart High School

Half a mile away. Students have started petitions for a three-mile buffer zone between detention facilities and schools. Some students have stopped attending out of fear. Student body population is over 60% Hispanic.

🏘️

Marley Park Community

5,000+ residents, average age 36. Young families who chose this area for its safety and schools.

🏡

Copper Canyon Ranch

2,830 residents, gated family community; the warehouse sits just 300 yards from residential homes.

✈️

Luke Air Force Base

Arizona passed laws to protect the base's mission, including a statute outlawing overnight stays in departure areas nearby. A detention facility with continuous overnight occupancy may conflict with those protections.

Sources: KJZZ, AZFamily, 12News, AZ Attorney General

💬 Respond with Confidence

Know the facts when the conversation gets hard

🏛️"The city has no power here; federal law overrules everything."

The city has more leverage than officials are letting on. While federal law does supersede local zoning, the city controls water hookups, sewer service, and electrical agreements, and can condition those on transparency.

AG Kris Mayes is pursuing a public nuisance lawsuit. In Hanover County, VA and Oklahoma City, formal opposition by local officials directly led to property owners withdrawing. The political cost matters.

💡 Even Rep. Gosar (R) demanded answers; this isn't about politics, it's about process.
🚔"We need more immigration enforcement, not less."

This campaign isn't about immigration policy; it's about transparency and community impact. You can support enforcement and still demand that a facility of this scale not be placed next to a K-8 school without any notice.

Rep. Paul Gosar, who strongly supports the president's immigration agenda, called DHS's process "crappy" and demanded written answers. Even supporters of enforcement agree this process was wrong.

💡 The city wasn't told. The school wasn't told. That's the issue.
🏭"It's just a short-term processing center, not a real prison."

DHS's own documents show the facility could fall into a second category: 7,000–10,000 detainees for stays up to 60 days. DHS has not clarified which type Surprise will be, and their documents contradict each other.

Arizona's existing ICE facility in Eloy, originally described in similar terms, became the deadliest detention center in America. ICE's largest new facility (Camp East Montana, El Paso) is now being considered for closure after three deaths, a measles outbreak, and 60+ federal standards violations in under eight months.

💡 DHS said 1,500. Their own docs say up to 10,000. Which is it?
🏠"How does this actually affect my property value and daily life?"

In Minneapolis, businesses reported 50–80% revenue drops and police worked 3,000+ overtime hours in 4 days at a cost of $2–3M to taxpayers. Schools went into lockdown.

Construction of a $150M facility creates years of heavy traffic, noise, and disruption on Sweetwater Avenue, the same street as Legacy Traditional School. Emergency service demands will increase, potentially raising city costs passed to taxpayers.

💡 Oklahoma City, Hanover County, Merrimack NH, Tennessee, and Mississippi all stopped similar facilities.
⚖️"Isn't ICE only targeting dangerous criminals?"

Federal data shows that only 25% of people detained nationally in January 2026 had any criminal record. The majority are civil immigration detainees, not criminal defendants.

A facility holding thousands of people near schools and neighborhoods raises real community health and safety concerns regardless of who is inside: traffic, disease transmission, emergency response strain, and more.

💡 75% of those detained have no criminal record, per DHS's own data.
🔥"What about the arson? Doesn't that prove the opposition is extreme?"

Community leaders and elected officials at every level immediately condemned the vandalism as illegal, dangerous, and counterproductive. Councilman Melton was explicit: "That doesn't help anybody."

Over 1,000 people showed up peacefully at city hall. Hundreds more at the February 18 meeting. That peaceful democratic pressure is what forced Gosar to write letters, got AG Mayes involved, and generated national AP coverage. One person's criminal act does not represent this community.

💡 Our movement is peaceful, legal, and it's already working.
☢️"What's the big deal about the chemical warehouse across the street?"

Rinchem's facility directly across from the planned detention site stores chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, and fluorine. These are documented in EPA and ADEQ filings at levels that trigger federal risk management planning requirements. Experts say a worst-case chemical release could travel thousands of feet, causing respiratory damage and chemical burns.

Rinchem's current risk management plan was written before anyone proposed housing hundreds to thousands of people across the street. Those people, if detained, cannot leave on their own during an emergency. Rinchem has until June 2026 to update that plan. Until then, no one has assessed the actual risk to the people who would be locked inside that facility during a chemical event.

💡 EPA/ADEQ filings were updated weeks before DHS purchased the warehouse. No agency has reassessed the risk.
💧"Can the city actually do anything about this?"

Yes. The city has more leverage than it has used so far. The Surprise City Council passed a high-water-use ordinance requiring council approval for any facility using more than 100,000 gallons per day. The city manager estimated this facility could use nearly 270,000 gallons per day. The council has not yet exercised this authority.

The city also controls water hookups, sewer service, and electrical agreements. Councilmember Judd raised additional concerns about state laws protecting Luke Air Force Base's mission, which prohibit overnight stays in departure areas near the base. A facility detaining people around the clock may conflict with those protections. And the council can pass a formal resolution of opposition, as Hanover County, VA and Pima County, AZ both did.

💡 270,000 gallons/day vs. a 100,000 gallon ordinance. The council has tools it has not yet used.

What Happens to Communities with ICE Facilities

Documented impacts, with sources

🌍 Human Rights Watch: Direct Public Statement on the Surprise Facility (April 9, 2026)
  • On April 9, Human Rights Watch published a public statement naming the Surprise facility and the GardaWorld contract by name
  • HRW cited 32 ICE custody deaths in 2025 and 14 deaths in the first three months of 2026, placing 2026 on track to be the deadliest year since 2004
  • HRW called on the Surprise City Council and “any city where ICE has bought warehouse space” to block these conversions absent “convincing, ironclad guarantees that the facilities will meet the basic standards of humane treatment ICE has habitually flouted”
  • HRW noted GardaWorld operates the Florida “Alligator Alcatraz” facility and has no prior direct detention-operating experience
  • HRW characterized the federal government’s warehouse-to-detention conversion program as one that “raises grave human rights concerns”

Why this matters: A major international human rights organization with decades of documentation experience is now on the record about Surprise specifically. The statement does not ask the city to mitigate the facility; it asks the city to block it unless DHS provides written, enforceable guarantees of humane conditions.

Source: Human Rights Watch: Another Disturbing Surprise From ICE (April 9, 2026) →

☢️ Rinchem Chemical Warehouse: Hazardous Materials Directly Across the Street (April 2026)
  • The Rinchem chemical warehouse sits directly across the street from the planned ICE detention facility at 13290 W Sweetwater Avenue
  • Public records filed with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA show the facility stores chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, and fluorine at levels that trigger federal risk management planning requirements
  • Those filings were updated just weeks before DHS purchased the warehouse in January 2026
  • Experts say in a worst-case scenario, a chemical release could travel thousands of feet, causing respiratory damage and chemical burns
  • Rinchem's current risk management plan was designed before the detention facility was proposed; it does not account for hundreds to thousands of detained people who cannot self-evacuate
  • Rinchem has until June 2026 to update its risk management plan; advocates argue no construction should proceed until that update is complete
  • No agency has publicly reassessed the emergency risk to potential detainees housed directly across from the chemical site

Why this matters: People detained in a locked facility cannot leave on their own during a chemical emergency. The emergency plan that governs the response was written before anyone proposed putting them there. Until Rinchem updates its plan and an independent assessment is conducted, the risk to human life is unknown and unaddressed.

Sources: AZFamily (April 8, 2026) | The Center Square (April 8, 2026) | EPA Risk Management Plan filings, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

💰 GardaWorld: $313M to $704M Contract, No Detention Experience, No Competitive Bid (March 2026)
  • DHS awarded GardaWorld Federal Services the contract on March 6, 2026; base value $313.4M, with options to $704M through February 2029
  • GardaWorld provides security at Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" Everglades facility, which has faced ongoing lawsuits, environmental challenges, and documented conditions problems
  • The company has never been directly contracted to design, build, or operate a detention facility; it has no prior detention management experience
  • The contract was awarded through a Department of Defense procurement system, bypassing the standard public competitive bidding process
  • Reps. Stanton, Ansari, and Grijalva demanded written answers from both DHS and GardaWorld within 15 business days on March 11–12, including questions on qualifications, accountability, safety standards, and community communication
  • Total taxpayer exposure: $70M purchase + $150M retrofit + $313M–$704M GardaWorld contract = well over $1 billion

Why this matters for Surprise: A contractor with no detention experience, awarded a billion-dollar contract without competitive bidding, is being handed responsibility for a facility next to a K-8 school. This is the same company whose Florida facility faces ongoing lawsuits.

Sources: AZFamily (March 10–11) | Rep. Stanton press release (March 12) | Tucson Sentinel (March 12)

⚖️ Federal Court Victory: Maryland's NEPA Argument Just Won. Arizona Has the Same Case. (March 2026)
  • On March 11–12, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order halting construction of Maryland's ICE warehouse facility in Williamsport
  • The judge ruled DHS "likely failed to comply" with the National Environmental Policy Act: no environmental review, no public input, no state consultation
  • The Williamsport facility is nearly identical to Surprise in scope: a purchased warehouse being converted to a 1,500-bed ICE detention center
  • AG Mayes had been monitoring the Maryland case; the ruling directly validates the legal arguments available in Arizona
  • The Surprise facility faces the same NEPA vulnerabilities: no environmental review, no community input, and DHS deliberately withheld the environmental survey it already conducted
  • Maryland AG Brown: "Federal immigration authorities are barreling past their legal obligations in an effort to build an immigration detention facility as quickly as they can."

The legal path forward: A NEPA-based lawsuit by AG Mayes would cite the same violations the Maryland court just found credible enough to halt construction. The precedent is now on the books.

Sources: Washington Post (March 11) | Maryland Daily Record (March 12)

📋 The "ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative": What DHS's Own Documents Reveal
  • DHS confirms a national "ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative"; Surprise is one of the first warehouse purchases
  • Two facility types: Regional (1,500 beds, 3–7 days) and Large-Scale (7,000–10,000 beds, up to 60 days)
  • DHS has not clarified which type Surprise will be; the documents contradict themselves
  • NEPA environmental survey was conducted; the results were deliberately omitted from released documents
  • City has not independently verified DHS's claims about water, power, or safety impact

Source: KJZZ (Feb 18, 2026)

🚨 ICE's Largest New Facility Being Considered for Closure After 8 Months (March 2026)
  • Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss (El Paso, TX), ICE's flagship new facility with and roughly 3,000 detainees, is being reviewed for closure after less than 8 months of operation
  • Three detainee deaths in under six weeks, including one ruled a homicide by a medical examiner
  • Measles outbreak forced the facility to close to visitors; TB outbreak also documented
  • A required ICE inspection found conditions violating at least 60 federal standards for immigration detention; the results were never released publicly
  • 911 calls at nearly one per day for five months: attempted suicides, fights, medical neglect, detainees losing dangerous amounts of weight due to insufficient food
  • 80% of detainees at the camp had no criminal record, per ICE data

Why this matters for Surprise: ICE's own flagship facility, built with $1.3 billion in federal contracts, is failing its most basic health and safety standards in under a year. This is the model being proposed for a warehouse next to a K-8 school in Surprise.

Sources: Washington Post (March 4) | NBC News (March 5) | AP / Boston Globe (March 6)

🏚️ Also in Arizona: Marana Facility Formally Contracted (February 2026)
  • DHS posted a formal sole-source contract notice for Management & Training Corporation (MTC) to operate a 513–775 bed facility at a shuttered state prison in Marana (near Tucson)
  • ICE target date for Marana: November 30, 2026
  • Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to formally oppose the facility
  • Reps. Ansari, Grijalva, and Stanton sent a joint letter to DHS demanding transparency on Marana
  • The same congressional allies fighting for Surprise are fighting Marana; Arizona is resisting on multiple fronts
  • Pima County's 4–1 formal opposition vote is the type of resolution Surprise should pass before the DC trip

The takeaway: Surprise is not alone. This is a statewide fight, and organized opposition at the local level is the proven strategy.

Sources: AZFamily | KJZZ | Arizona Mirror (Feb 26–27, 2026)

📍 Minneapolis, MN: January 2026
  • Police worked 3,000+ overtime hours in 4 days at a cost of $2–3 million to taxpayers
  • Businesses reported 50–80% revenue decreases
  • Schools forced into lockdown to protect students
  • State and cities filed federal lawsuit citing "chaos" and constitutional violations

Sources: City of Minneapolis, CBS Minnesota, MN Attorney General

✅ Oklahoma City: January 2026 (STOPPED)
  • Proposed 1,500-bed facility CANCELLED after community opposition
  • Hours of public testimony at city council meetings
  • Property owners withdrew after sustained community pressure
  • Mayor Holt: "I commend the owners for their decision"

Sources: KOCO News, KGOU (NPR), News9

✅ Hanover County, VA: January 2026 (STOPPED)
  • Board of Supervisors formally opposed the facility
  • Estimated $1M+ annual reduction in tax revenue cited
  • "Unplanned demands on public services, including public safety"
  • Property owner withdrew from sale after community opposition

Sources: WVTF (NPR), NBC12, CBS6 Richmond

✅ Merrimack, NH: February 24, 2026 (STOPPED: The Surprise Template)
  • Governor traveled to Washington DC, met directly with DHS Secretary Noem, and the facility was cancelled the same week
  • Proposed 400–600 bed facility in a 324,000 sq ft warehouse, a similar scale to Surprise
  • Community packed town meetings; flooded governor's office with calls and emails
  • Local government formally opposed the facility before the governor's DC trip
  • Town manager: "This is democracy at its best." State rep: "This community has fought giants and has come out victorious."

Sources: Boston Globe (Feb 24) | NHPR (Feb 24)

⚠️ Eloy, AZ: Arizona's Existing ICE Facility
  • Called "deadliest immigration detention center in the U.S." by Rep. Raúl Grijalva
  • 16+ deaths including 5 suicides since opening
  • 9% of all U.S. detention deaths despite being just 1 of 250+ facilities
  • 53 complaints in 2 years for medical neglect, abuse, excessive segregation

Sources: Detention Watch Network, NPR

🦠 Arizona ICE Facilities: Active Measles Outbreak, 2026
  • At least 3 confirmed measles cases among detainees at the Florence Detention Center in Pinal County; the facility was placed under quarantine
  • Arizona's Department of Health Services reports 31+ measles cases statewide in 2026 alone
  • Reps. Ansari, Stanton, Grijalva, and Sen. Kelly sent a joint letter demanding answers about the outbreak and ICE's containment procedures
  • In 2016, a measles outbreak at an Arizona ICE facility resulted in 30+ cases among detainees and 9 staff members
  • Detention center employees travel between facility and community daily, creating a real transmission pathway to local neighborhoods and schools

Why this matters for Surprise: A new 1,500–10,000 bed facility on the same street as a K-8 school creates this exact risk in our community.

Sources: CNN (Jan 28) | Rep. Ansari press release | Tucson Sentinel (Feb 10)

Contact Your Representatives

Make your voice heard at every level of government

🏛️ City of Surprise

Mayor Kevin Sartor
Demand a full public debrief on DC trip; push for formal opposition resolution
Contact Form →
City Council
Demand formal resolution, NEPA results, and coordination with AG Mayes
Council Info →

⚖️ Arizona Attorney General

Kris Mayes
Pursuing public nuisance lawsuit. Show her your support.
Contact AG Mayes →

🏛️ U.S. Congress

Rep. Paul Gosar (R), AZ-9
Demand DHS written response be made public; NEPA results released
Contact →
Senator Mark Kelly (D)
Contact →
Senator Ruben Gallego (D)
Newly elected, strong on immigration accountability
Contact →

🏛️ Arizona State Legislature

Senator Janae Shamp (R)
State Senate District 29
Rep. Steve Montenegro (R)
State House District 29
Rep. Austin Smith (R)
State House District 29
Find Your Legislator →

Letter Template

Send to all seven councilmembers before the next meeting

Subject: The Mayor Has One Vote. The Council Has Six More.

Mayor Sartor and Surprise City Council,

On April 15, Mayor Sartor publicly stated on KTAR that he opposes any legal action by the city against the ICE facility, calling it a waste of city resources. I respect the mayor’s right to hold that position. I am writing to the other six members of the council because the mayor holds one of seven votes, and the motion Councilmember Judd proposed on April 7 to protect local authority, the city’s water supply, and Surprise residents has not yet come up for a vote.

When that vote comes, I am asking each councilmember to support the following:

  1. Place the Judd motion on the agenda as an action item and pass it. Direct city staff and the city attorney to identify every available authority to protect local control, the water supply, and residents, including zoning enforcement, ordinance application, and coordination with the Attorney General.
  2. Pass a formal resolution opposing this facility, as Hanover County, VA and Pima County, AZ did. Both actions strengthened their legal and political standing.
  3. Enforce the city’s high-water-use ordinance. The city manager estimated this facility could use nearly 270,000 gallons per day. The city’s own ordinance requires council approval above 100,000 gallons. That ordinance exists to be enforced.
  4. Demand Rinchem’s risk management plan be updated before any construction proceeds. A hazardous chemical warehouse storing chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, and fluorine sits directly across the street. Its current emergency plan does not account for hundreds of detained people who cannot self-evacuate. Rinchem has until June to update that plan. No one should be housed at Sweetwater Avenue until that update is complete and independently reviewed.
  5. Demand a formal intergovernmental agreement with DHS before any opening. Every verbal promise from the DC trip belongs in enforceable writing: bed cap, facility tours, school and senior center protections, the community relations board, and the $300,000 annual property-tax reimbursement.
  6. Authorize the city attorney to coordinate with Attorney General Mayes’s legal review. The AG’s office has confirmed it is considering all legal options, including the public nuisance law. A federal court has already halted an identical DHS facility in Maryland on NEPA grounds.
  7. Investigate the Luke Air Force Base conflict. State law restricts overnight stays in departure areas near the base. A detention facility with continuous overnight occupancy may conflict with those protections and with the base’s operational mission.

The mayor made his position public before the vote. I am asking each councilmember to make yours public as well, and to put your one vote on the record when this motion comes before you.

The Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center, forty miles from here, was designed for 157 people and a 12-hour hold. Congressional oversight on April 9 found 274 people held for an average of 36 hours, in rooms with no beds and no showers. That is what DHS’s written standards actually produce in Arizona right now. Verbal promises are not enough.

Sincerely,
[Your name, address, phone, email]

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Sources & Documentation

Every claim on this site is backed by credible news sources

🆕 April 22–May 6, 2026: Latest

Concerns Grow Over Potential Overcrowding at Mesa Gateway ICE Facility NEW
AZFamily, May 5, 2026
Read Article →
Mesa Gateway Airport Authority Director Sends Letter to ICE Contractor About Overcrowding Reports NEW
KJZZ, May 5, 2026
Read Article →
Mesa Airport Warns ICE Facility's Landlord That Overcrowding May Violate Its Lease NEW
Arizona Mirror, April 30, 2026
Read Article →
Mesa Can't Enforce Its Own Fire Codes at an ICE Facility Where Detainees Can't Even Sit Down NEW
Arizona Mirror, April 27, 2026
Read Article →
Stop Work Order Issued for Contractor at Planned Arizona ICE Detention Center NEW
KJZZ, April 28, 2026
Read Article →
Stop Work Order Issued for Surprise ICE Facility Contractor NEW
AZPM, April 27, 2026
Read Article →
Protesters Rally Against Proposed ICE Facility Following Arizona AG's Lawsuit NEW
FOX 10 Phoenix, April 25, 2026
Read Article →
Work on $313 Million Contract to Convert ICE Warehouse in Surprise Was Ordered Stopped Before State Sued, Records Show NEW
Project Salt Box, April 26, 2026
Read Report →
Arizona's Attorney General Sues DHS to Stop Planned ICE Detention Center in Surprise NEW
KJZZ, April 27, 2026
Read Article →

🆕 April 16–21, 2026

Surprise City Council Regular Meeting: April 21, 2026 NEW
City of Surprise meeting recording, April 21, 2026
Meeting Archive →
Sens. Kelly, Gallego call on DHS to halt ICE expansion in Arizona NEW
KJZZ, April 19, 2026
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ICE’s Surprise detention center is near my school. Does my congressman care? (Op-Ed by Cali Overs) NEW
Phoenix New Times, March 2026
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Keep ICE Detention Centers Away From Our Schools: Mandate a 3-Mile Safety Buffer Zone (Petition) NEW
Change.org / Cali Overs, launched March 2026
Sign Petition →

April 9–15, 2026

Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor opposes potential legal action to block ICE detention center NEW
KTAR (Mike Broomhead Show), April 15, 2026
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Protesters spotlight ICE concerns outside Surprise State of the City event NEW
ABC15, April 14, 2026
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Surprise city celebration will be in state of protest over ICE facility NEW
Surprise Independent, April 13, 2026
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Surprise inspection finds ICE stuffing migrants “like sardines” into a facility with no bed, showers NEW
Arizona Mirror, April 10, 2026
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“Appallingly short” of basic human dignity: Democrats demand answers about Mesa ICE facility NEW
Arizona Mirror, April 10, 2026
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ICE moved detainees out of an overcrowded Mesa facility before congressional oversight visit NEW
Arizona Mirror, April 9, 2026
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Rep. Grijalva Statement Following Surprise Oversight Visit at Mesa ICE Facility NEW
Office of Rep. Adelita Grijalva, April 9, 2026
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Another Disturbing Surprise From ICE NEW
Human Rights Watch, April 9, 2026
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“A stain on our city”: DHS talks garner more pushback over Surprise ICE facility NEW
AZPM (NPR Arizona), April 9, 2026
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Arizona leaders, community continue to rally against incoming Surprise ICE facility NEW
Caló News / AP, April 13, 2026
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April 7–8, 2026

Surprise residents challenge city leaders over ICE facility plans
AZFamily, April 8, 2026
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Arizonans express frustration over new ICE detention facility
The Center Square, April 8, 2026
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Democrats want Surprise City Council to oppose ICE detention center
KTAR, April 8, 2026
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Arizona Senate Democrats: Letter opposing ICE facility in Surprise
Arizona Senate Democrats, April 7, 2026
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Surprise City Council to address the public about proposed ICE facility
12News (NBC), April 7, 2026
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Public pressure mounts over ICE facility in Surprise as DHS changes hands
Surprise Today, April 8, 2026
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The company awarded Surprise ICE warehouse contract doesn't have background in detention work NEW
KJZZ (NPR Arizona) / The Show, April 1, 2026
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March 30–April 5, 2026

DHS addresses costs, concerns about ICE detention center in meeting with Surprise officials
KJZZ (NPR Arizona), March 23, 2026
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March 10–18, 2026

Some Surprise residents continue to rally against proposed ICE facility NEW
AZFamily, March 13–14, 2026
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Federal judge halts construction of ICE detention center in Maryland; cites NEPA violations NEW
Washington Post / Maryland Daily Record, March 11–12, 2026
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Arizona Democrats raise concern about oversight of Surprise ICE facility; send letters to DHS and GardaWorld NEW
AZFamily / Rep. Stanton press release, March 11–12, 2026
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Federal government selects controversial company to run Surprise ICE facility: GardaWorld awarded $313M contract NEW
AZFamily, March 10–11, 2026
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"Arizona Alcatraz" sparks controversy: what we know about the ICE facility in Surprise NEW
Deseret News, March 15, 2026
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March 5–9, 2026

Student leader raises concerns over planned ICE facility near Dysart schools
AZFamily, March 7–8, 2026
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Trump fires DHS Secretary Kristi Noem; names Sen. Markwayne Mullin as replacement
NPR / CBS News / ABC News, March 5, 2026
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ICE freezes Newport, Oregon detention center plans
OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting), March 5, 2026
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ICE taking steps to close Camp East Montana, its largest detention facility
Washington Post, March 4, 2026
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ICE's detention expansion faces local resistance nationwide: Mississippi, Tennessee, NH cancelled
Governing.com / PBS NewsHour, March 2026
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Attempted suicides, fights, pain: 911 calls reveal misery at ICE's largest detention facility
Associated Press / Boston Globe, March 6, 2026
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🆕 February 24–28, 2026

Plans for proposed ICE facility in Merrimack, N.H., won't move forward, governor says
Boston Globe / NHPR, February 24, 2026
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Surprise officials head to DC for answers on planned ICE facility
AZFamily, February 27–28, 2026
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February 23–25, 2026: 8,000 Comments and DHS Admission

Over 8,000 weigh in against Surprise ICE detention facility
AZFamily, February 25, 2026
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ICE facility in Surprise could open by summer's end, DHS tells Arizona lawmaker
AZFamily, February 24, 2026
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February 21–23, 2026

Evidence of fire stunt found at ICE facility in Arizona
KYMA / CNN, February 23, 2026
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ICE warehouse in Surprise targeted by arsonist days after massive community protests
Tucson Sentinel / Arizona Mirror, February 23, 2026
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Criminal damage at federal building in Surprise; FBI and ATF respond
AZFamily, February 21, 2026
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Broken window and fire evidence at ICE facility
12News (NBC), February 21, 2026
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ICE's purchases for big detention centers are marked by secrecy, frustrating towns
Associated Press, February 21, 2026
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February 18, 2026: Breaking News

Surprise ICE warehouse could house up to 10,000 detainees for months at a time, new documents show
KJZZ (NPR Arizona), February 18, 2026
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Surprise leaders still seeking answers about DHS plan for ICE facility
AZFamily, February 18, 2026
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DHS reveals Surprise warehouse turned ICE detention facility part of $38B plan
FOX 10 Phoenix, February 18, 2026
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February 15–17, 2026: DHS Document Release

DHS docs detail new Surprise ICE facility with capacity for 1,500 detainees
AZFamily, February 17, 2026
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Surprise city leaders left with questions about ICE facility despite new DHS docs
AZFamily, February 17, 2026
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Document shows ICE plans to boost detention capacity by buying up warehouses like in Arizona
KJZZ (NPR Arizona), February 15, 2026
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February 12–14, 2026

Trump's ICE Facility Surge Raises Transparency and Scrutiny Issues: "This is a crappy process"
Bloomberg Government, February 12, 2026
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Mayes uses 'public nuisance' law to target proposed Surprise ICE facility
Arizona Capitol Times, February 13, 2026
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New details about what DHS plans to do with proposed ICE facilities
AZFamily, February 13, 2026
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Surprise officials demand details, clarity on proposed ICE facility
AZFamily, February 12, 2026
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February 10–11, 2026: Attorney General and Legal Action

Attorney General Mayes Demands Answers from DHS on Proposed ICE Detention Facility
Arizona Attorney General, February 10, 2026
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Mayes considers 'nuisance' lawsuit to stop Arizona ICE detention facility
KJZZ (NPR Arizona), February 10, 2026
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Arizona AG, US senators demand answers on proposed ICE facility in Surprise
AZFamily, February 10, 2026
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Surprise council plans trip to D.C. to get ICE answers
Surprise Independent, February 11, 2026
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Senators Kelly & Gallego Letter to DHS (PDF)
U.S. Senate, February 10, 2026
Download Letter →
Ansari, Stanton, Grijalva, Kelly demand answers on measles outbreak at Arizona ICE facilities
Rep. Ansari / Rep. Stanton, February 2026
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February 3rd Meeting Coverage

Hundreds packed Surprise council meeting about ICE facility
KJZZ (NPR Arizona), February 5, 2026
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Uproar over Surprise ICE facility prompts Gosar to demand transparency
Cronkite News, February 4, 2026
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ICE warehouse purchase fuels Valley immigration enforcement concerns
Axios Phoenix, February 4, 2026
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Gosar Letter to DHS Secretary Noem (PDF)
Rep. Paul Gosar, February 4, 2026
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Original Coverage: January 2026

ICE is planning a 1,500-bed processing facility in a Surprise warehouse it just bought for $70M
KJZZ (NPR Arizona), January 30, 2026
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Records: ICE buys Surprise warehouse facility for $70 million
AZFamily, January 29, 2026
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ICE purchases warehouse in West Valley the size of 7 football fields
12News (NBC), January 29, 2026
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Measles outbreak at ICE detention centers in Arizona prompts quarantine
CNN / Tucson.com, January 28, 2026
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Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Hanover County & Merrimack

Minneapolis police racked up millions in overtime in less than 2 weeks
CBS Minnesota, January 28, 2026
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Oklahoma City ICE detention center proposal halted after community opposition
KOCO News 5 (ABC), January 30, 2026
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Hanover County officials push back on proposed ICE facility
WVTF (NPR Virginia), January 28, 2026
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NH Gov. Ayotte says plans for Merrimack ICE facility have been scrapped
Boston Herald / NHPR, February 24, 2026
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Eloy Detention Center (Arizona)

New Report Compiles Decades of Abuse at Eloy Detention Center
Detention Watch Network, November 6, 2024
Read Report →
It's the deadliest year for people in ICE custody in decades
NPR, October 23, 2025
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Resources & Organizations

Connect with groups fighting for community rights

ACLU of Arizona

Legal resources and community organizing support for fighting detention facilities.

acluaz.org →

Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project

Arizona-based experts who have fought Eloy facility conditions for years.

firrp.org →

Detention Watch Network

National coordination and #CommunitiesNotCages campaign resources.

detentionwatchnetwork.org →