Surprise Mayor meets with DHS over proposed ICE detention facility

City leaders meet with DHS, ICE over planned detention facility in Surprise

Planned protests are in the works after the mayor of Surprise wrapped up discussion with officials in Washington D.C. over the planned ICE detention facility in the West Valley. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean hears what the mayor has to say. 

SURPRISE, Ariz. - The fight to keep a planned ICE detention warehouse out of the West Valley continues, following talks between the mayor of Surprise and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Washington D.C. 

What we know:

Mayor Kevin Sartor said that progress is being made between city leaders and DHS. Meanwhile, protesters are arguing they don't want progress, they want want the city to say ‘No’ to the 500+ bed facility altogether.

"He seems to accept this as an inevitability, when we're not ready for that to be where we stand yet," said Brent Peak, co-chair of Northwest Valley Indivisible.

Protesters with Northwest Valley Indivisible are far from satisfied with Mayor Sartor's update on discussions. The mayor addressed those with concerns and frustrations during his press conference on March 30.

"To our Surprise residents, my message today is one of progress but not finality," Mayor Sartor said. "We hear those protests, we hear when they come in and talk to us and I appreciate that dialogue and that opportunity for us to hear directly from residents. I would never ask them to stop."

Local perspective:

Protesters say they won't stop. Dysart High School senior Elijah Perez Cardona shared the fear he feels—fear he says is echoed by many of his Mexican-American classmates.

"Each day when I drive to school and pass the ICE facility, I worry that I'm gonna be stopped by an agent just for being Hispanic," Perez Cardona said. "I can't imagine how it will be when this building opens. It disgusts me that these agents will be receiving a paycheck while these students have to attend school scared."

What He's Saying:

During his press conference, Mayor Sartor shared that DHS told him only single adults would be detained for only three to seven days for processing and the presence of the facility won't trigger any local immigration action.

"DHS agreed to host facility tours and create a community relation board with city-appointed representation, which will allow for greater communication and transparency," Mayor Sartor said. "DHS also stated there will be limited visibility in the community, ensuring transportation would happen discreetly to minimize community impact and disruption."

The other side:

Protesters say they don't believe this and want to see their city leaders stand up to the federal government.

"We want the mayor to stand with the residents of Surprise in formal opposition to this facility and we want this council to commit to joining Attorney General Kris Mayes in any legal action filed against it," Peak said.

They said continued talks with DHS go against what many community members want, as demonstrated by the lengthy public comment time needed at recent City Council meetings for those with concerns about the facility.

"A memorandum of understanding is probably the most we can expect, and we all need to acknowledge that it is not legally enforceable," said Peak. "The moment it becomes inconvenient, those commitments are gone."

The backstory:

In January 2026, DHS bought the 418,000-square-foot warehouse for more than $70 million near Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road, according to Maricopa County property records.

Retrofitting the facility is expected to cost $150 million and create nearly 1,400 jobs. Over three years, operations are projected to cost $180 million while generating approximately $16 million in annual tax revenue.

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DHS details $70M Surprise facility as 1,500-bed migrant processing center

Federal officials revealed a $70 million, 418,000-square-foot facility in Surprise will serve as a short-term processing center for 500 to 1,500 migrants. The site will facilitate the intake and transfer of people, with stays averaging 3 to 7 days.

What's next:

Mayor Sartor said there will be more discussion at the Surprise City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 7. He said there is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the works, with the help of Congressman Paul Gosar. 

Those with Northwest Valley Indivisible said the MOU is not legally binding, so it doesn't mean anything to them. 

Map of the location of the detention facility.