Controversy emerged in Surprise, Arizona, after The Arizona Republic exclusively revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) purchased a warehouse to house 1,500 detainees without notifying local officials.
Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) raised concerns about the plan, stating, "They are trying to put a 1,500-bed detention facility in a light industrial building not built for this.” "There are serious life safety issues," he added.
Rep. Stanton questioned whether the building has adequate emergency exits, proper sprinkler systems, and sufficient air circulation for housing people.
"We have zoning for a reason. We actually have building inspectors for that reason, so they're putting 1,500 souls at a time in a very dangerous position," he stated.
Additionally, the lack of communication troubled local officials. The federal government purchased the 418,400-square-foot warehouse for over $70 million on January 23rd without consulting Surprise's mayor, city council, or nearby school districts.
ICE confirmed the purchase in a January 30th email, one day after The Republic first reported the story.
Stanton linked the facility to recent ICE enforcement operations. He referenced an incident in Minneapolis involving ICE agents that resulted in two deaths, saying the agents "barely have any training, especially compared to local police officers."
The announcement prompted a significant public response, with over 1,000 people gathering outside Surprise City Hall on February 3rd. Republican Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ), who represents the area, also requested information from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about safety measures and the site selection process.
Stanton concluded his statement by saying, "I think the American people are sick and tired of how DHS is operating. Kristi Noem needs to be fired."
As of now, city officials noted that federal projects are not subject to local zoning regulations.
