Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) are demanding transparency on plans to expand the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Florence, Arizona.
The Context
In September, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a $1.2 billion contract to the security firm GardaWorld to expand the facility and others in New York, California, Texas, and Florida.
The contract followed ICE's failure to buy and convert warehouses, such as the one in Surprise, into new facilities.
Notably, when pressed about the Surprise plans, GardaWorld deferred to ICE and gave no clear answers.
Rep. Grijalva spoke out against the new contract, saying, "People already in Arizona detention centers can't get clean drinking water, edible food, or adequate medical care. DHS should be fixing these appalling conditions — not preparing to funnel another $1.2 billion in taxpayer dollars into expanding Trump's cruel mass detention and deportation machine."
The New Letter
Reps. Stanton, Ansari, and Grijalva allege that the city of Florence was not informed of the expansion, writing, "It is deeply concerning that, despite the significant scale of these projects and their potential impact on surrounding communities, local governments continue to learn about them only after contracts have been awarded."
As a result, they are demanding answers from GardaWorld on its qualifications to manage both the Surprise and Florence projects, the personnel overseeing operations, and plans to subcontract construction, medical care, staffing, or facility management.
Additionally, the Arizona Congress members want transparency in environmental reviews, code compliance, and consultation with local authorities.
"The communities surrounding the Surprise and Florence facilities deserve transparency," Stanton, Ansari, and Grijalva concluded.
Previous Demands for Transparency
Stanton previously demanded answers on plans to build data centers on federal land in Arizona, writing, "We need greater clarity on how Interior's legal obligations will be carried out, including what permitting processes, public notice, and opportunities for public engagement will apply, should these projects move forward."
