SURPRISE, AZ — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released more details Monday on the proposed ICE processing facility in Surprise.
According to Noem, the Surprise site is under consideration to serve as a 500- to 1,500-bed processing facility that will be used for intake and short-term transfers of undocumented immigrants.
The average length of stay would be three to seven days.
In a statement provided by Congressman Paul Gosar, it read, in part, "DHS further indicated that ICE anticipates onboarding such facilities by the end of Fiscal Year 2026, subject to the procurement process and available funding."
Watch previous ABC15 coverage as Surprise citizens packed a city council meeting in relation to this facility, in the video player above.
Secretary Noem outlined that the facility would follow ICE National Detention Standards, include a fully staffed on-site medical unit, reimburse local partners for emergency services, and maintain robust security staffing to ensure the safety of detainees, personnel, and surrounding communities.
These details were revealed in a letter that Noem sent to Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar.
Take a look at the full letter from Secretary Noem below:
On Friday, March 13, Congressman Rep. Greg Stanton stood outside the new ICE facility in Surprise alongside community members, demanding more answers about the facility that’s meant to hold up to 1,500 detainees.
Amongst those community members, a senior from Dysart High School who’s had a petition circulating. Senior Cali has been trying to get lawmakers to create legislation that would create a three-mile buffer zone between ICE facilities and schools. Her high school is less than a mile from the new ICE facility.
“For students this is not a political matter. It is a safety concern and fear,” Cali said.
According to the USA Spending government website, the Department of Homeland Security awarded a $313 million contract to GardaWorld Federal Services LLC to help “procure the renovation… and provide all necessary wraparound services or operation of the facility” in Surprise. The contract start date is listed for March 6, 2026, and is set to end March 5, 2027, but another potential end date is listed as February 17, 2029. The potential award amount could be more than $700 million.
GardaWorld Federal Services is also tied to the known Florida “Alligator Alcatraz,” and Congressman Stanton shared concerns about this on Friday, adding that he wants access inside the building. He said he’s been denied of going inside.
“It is critically important. it is potentially dangerous to people’s lives that we get inside, see the building, see what needs to be done and certify that life safety measures have been taken inside that building,” he said.
GardaWorld Federal Services sent a statement to ABC15:
GardaWorld Federal is often a provider of choice for U.S. federal government, state, and municipal contracts. The company has decades of experience providing critical services to migrant and vulnerable populations, including in New Mexico, New York, Florida, Texas, and Virginia. GardaWorld Federal’s goal is to provide highly qualified, trained personnel for any work performed. The team has experience staffing numerous types of security personnel, physicians, nurses, paramedics, case managers, behavioral health specialists, records administrators, intake and screening specialists, pharmacists, logisticians, housekeepers, food service workers, facilities maintenance workers, translators, and construction trade workers.
