Last week, the Department of Homeland Security purchased a massive warehouse in Surprise for over $70 million, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has plans for a 1,500-bed processing facility.
The acquisition of the warehouse near Waddell and Dysart roads comes as immigration enforcement efforts continue to ramp up across the country. According to records, the Rockefeller Group sold the more than 400,000-square-foot facility to DHS on Jan. 23.
In a statement, an ICE spokesperson credited funding from Trump's spending bill for the detention-space expansion efforts.
The city of Surprise says it has not been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security nor any other federal agency about the intended use of the building.
More Surprise news
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On Wednesday, Rep. Paul Gosar, a Bullhead City Republican whose district includes the site, wrote a terse letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding “transparency” and coordination with a community that had received none so far. -
On Tuesday, hundreds of people packed a Surprise City Council meeting to protest new ICE facility. The Show's Sam Dingman documented the meeting. -
Democratic Congressman Greg Stanton says he’s concerned about the recent purchase of a $70 million warehouse by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. -
A Surprise charter school was on high alert Friday after a threat toward the school was posted on social media. -
Republican Rep. Nick Kupper of Surprise has filed draft legislation that would lower the age by six months, to 15 years old.
