In the months since the Department of Homeland Security bought a massive warehouse in Surprise, little information about its planned use has been made public. The city’s mayor is now sharing details following a meeting with the federal agency.
City officials went to D.C. earlier this month to learn more from DHS and ICE representatives about how the site will be used as a detention facility.
Mayor Kevin Sartor provided some details on Monday that differ from original documents.
Sartor said the facility will hold about 550 beds, about a third of what had been planned. He also said it will be used for single adults only for up to a week before going to larger centers in Texas or Utah, or sent to their point of origin.
“This facility will not trigger local immigration enforcement activities. There will be no operations in sensitive areas such as schools, churches, or senior centers," Sartor said.
Sartor said local officials can do little to prevent the federal use of the facility, but that the city will be reimbursed for property tax loss. The City Council will take public comment during its April 7 meeting.
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