SURPRISE, AZ — Hours of public comment, dozens of speakers and hundreds of West Valley community members showed up to the Surprise City Council meeting Tuesday to voice their opinions on a recently purchased ICE warehouse.
According to Maricopa County records, DHS paid more than $70 million in cash for a 418,000-square-foot property in the city.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said holding facilities are going up all around the country.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed the warehouse will be used as a "processing facility" with 1,500 beds.
"ICE purchased land in Surprise, Arizona to build a processing facility that will hold approximately 1,500 beds," a statement read. "Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space."
The majority of Tuesday night's speakers voiced opposition to the facility.
“I just cannot stand for this. And then they're going to house people in a warehouse. We do not warehouse people in our country. This isn't the United States I grew up in,” one woman said. " They're holding them in our neighborhood, close to schools, close to stores, to neighborhoods."
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However, some City of Surprise residents spoke during public comment in support of the expanded federal operations.
“I appreciate the hard work that these men and women who wake up every day, take up these shifts and say 'I will protect you,’” a man said.
City officials said in a statement that they were not aware of the purchase beforehand.
"It’s important to note, Federal projects are not subject to local regulations, such as zoning,” the statement read in part. "When it comes to immigration enforcement, local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws; Surprise Police Department enforces local and state laws. While we do not participate in ICE operations, we also cannot interrupt or prevent their operations.”
The neighboring community of El Mirage also responding to public concerns in a statement over the weekend.
"My top priority is the safety and well-being of El Mirage residents. While this facility is not located in our city, its presence has raised concerns with residents. Due to its proximity, the City is working to understand what impacts could affect our community,” Mayor Alexis Hermosillo said.
U.S. House Representative Paul Gosar released the following statement about the possible ICE facility coming to Surprise:
“The rule of law is not optional. I strongly support Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws. Detention capacity is a necessary component of a functioning immigration system—particularly after years of reckless open-border policies under the Biden administration that allowed millions of illegal aliens to flood into the United States, overwhelming resources and forcing reactive federal measures that could have been avoided.
At the same time, while immigration policy is set at the federal level, its impacts are felt most acutely at the local level. Reports of a large-scale detention facility in Surprise raise legitimate questions for residents, schools, first responders, and local governments. Concerns about infrastructure, traffic, emergency services, and public safety deserve serious and transparent consideration and Empowering state and local officials in decisions that affect their communities consistently produces the most effective outcomes.
These are not anti-illegal alien concerns. They are common-sense expectations of transparency and coordination. I trust that DHS will work cooperatively with state and local officials and communicate openly with the communities affected by its decisions.
My goal is straightforward: immigration enforcement must be carried out effectively while respecting the legitimate interests of the communities that bear its local impacts. I am confident that DHS will provide clear answers and will work collaboratively with local stakeholders moving forward.”
The full letter Gosar sent to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is below:
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