Last month, the federal government awarded a $313 million contract to security firm GardaWorld LLC — with the goal of establishing a new ICE facility in Surprise.
Now, it appears those operations planned for Arizona have stalled.
A stop work order related to the project was issued to GardaWorld last week, according to USAspending.gov, a database maintained by the federal government.
It’s not clear why the stop work order was issued, or how long it will last.
The stop work order was first reported by Project Salt Box — an initiative that tracks new detention centers across the country.
Read the full story on AZPM.org →
1 of
— ice-warehouse-surprise-signs-cfh-20260417.jpg
A protest against the planned ICE detention center in Surprise on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
2 of
— ice-warehouse-surprise-cfh-20260417.jpg
A protest against the planned ICE detention center in Surprise on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
3 of
— ice-warehouse-protest-20260427.jpg
A protest against the planned ICE detention center in Surprise on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
4 of
— ice-warehouse-protest-2-20260427.jpg
A protest against the planned ICE detention center in Surprise on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
5 of
— ice-warehouse-protest-3-20260427.jpg
A protest against the planned ICE detention center in Surprise on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
6 of
— ice-warehouse-protest-sign-20260427.jpg
A protest against the planned ICE detention center in Surprise on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
7 of
— kris-mayes-20260424.jpg
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks in front of the planned ICE detention center in Surprise on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Howard Fischer / Capitol Media Services
8 of
— kris-mayes-surprise-warehouse-2-20260424.jpeg
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stands outside a Surprise warehouse on April 24, 2026.
Camryn Sanchez / KJZZ
9 of
— kris-mayes-cali-overs-surprise-2-20260424.jpeg
Dysart High School student body president Cali Overs talks to the media on April 24, 2026.
Camryn Sanchez / KJZZ
10 of
— kris-mayes-catherine-miranda-analise-ortiz-20250424.jpeg
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stands outside a Surprise warehouse with (from left) Arizona Sen. Catherine Miranda (D-Laveen) and Sen. Analise Ortiz (D-Phoenix) on April 24, 2026.
Camryn Sanchez / KJZZ
11 of
— surprise city council ice 20260205.JPEG
Protesters object to a purchase of a warehouse in Surprise by ICE outside a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025.
Sam Dingman / KJZZ
12 of
— surprise-ICE-warehouse-CH-20260130.jpg
A warehouse purchased by the Department of Homeland Security near Waddell and Dysart roads in Surprise, Arizona.
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
13 of
— surprise-arizona-ICE-building-20260130_115250.jpg
Chelsey Heath / KJZZ
14 of
— surprise city council ice 20260205 2.JPEG
Protesters object to a purchase of a warehouse in Surprise by ICE outside a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025.
Sam Dingman / KJZZ
15 of
— surprise city council ice 20260205 4.JPEG
Protesters object to a purchase of a warehouse in Surprise by ICE outside a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025.
Sam Dingman / KJZZ
