Kelly, Gallego Demand Answers from DHS on Surprise, AZ Warehouse Purchase for ICE Facility

"Cities like Surprise, and the American public at large, are being left in the dark about the major impacts these facilities will inevitably have on their communities."

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Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons for immediate answers about DHS's acquisition of a commercial warehouse facility in Surprise, Arizona, that is reportedly going to be converted into an ICE processing facility.

In the letter, Kelly and Gallego noted that the Department is carrying out this project "without so much as notifying the City of Surprise or Maricopa County officials" and DHS and ICE have not answered requests for details from their offices.

The senators underscored that DHS moved forward without meaningful coordination with local leaders, writing: "Given the scale of this project, the total lack of community involvement, the concerns we have heard from local leaders, and the potential implications for the community and region, we urge the Department to immediately provide answers about this project before it moves forward."

The senators further highlighted potential community issues, noting that: "Surprise is one of the fastest-growing cities in Arizona, with a population that has increased by more than 17 percent since 2020. The pace of this growth has placed ongoing pressure on local infrastructure, water resources, public safety, and economic development planning. Given the potential for significant impacts related to the Department's acquisition and conversion of a warehouse into a detention facility, an environmental assessment is appropriate to ensure the City of Surprise has a full understanding of these impacts, particularly with regard to the city's water usage, utilities, and traffic."

The senators also warned the acquisition appears to be part of a broader effort by DHS to rapidly expand detention capacity through the purchase and conversion of large commercial warehouses, raising concerns about transparency, planning, and environmental review.

"Given the sheer size of the planned facilities, the aggressive schedule for opening them, and the complete lack of transparency associated with the planning process, the Department's approach raises serious concerns about whether these projects have had sufficient planning and environmental review to proceed. As a result, cities like Surprise, and the American public at large, are being left in the dark about the major impacts these facilities will inevitably have on their communities," the senators concluded.

To better understand DHS's plans and address concerns raised by constituents, the senators requested detailed responses to a series of questions, including the intended use of the warehouse, anticipated impacts on local systems and emergency services, NEPA compliance, applicable detention standards, total and annual operating costs and funding sources, and how DHS will engage with local officials moving forward.

Read the full letter here.