Surprise Officials Raise Concerns Over Unenforceable Promises for New ICE Detention Center

Mayor says DHS claimed facility will house only 542 people, but activists call that claim 'laughable'.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:35am

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A heavily textured, fragmented painting in shades of grey and blue depicting the outline of a large government building, with overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes representing the chaotic and disruptive impact of the facility on the local community.A fractured, abstract illustration captures the tension and disruption surrounding the planned ICE detention center in Surprise, Arizona.Phoenix Today

Surprise, Arizona officials met with Department of Homeland Security representatives to discuss the planned opening of a massive new ICE detention center in the city. While DHS made several promises about the facility's size and operations, city leaders admit those promises are not legally enforceable. Activists opposed to the center say they don't trust DHS and ICE to keep their word, and are calling on the city to take legal action to stop the facility from opening.

Why it matters

The planned ICE detention center in Surprise has generated significant pushback from local residents and activists who are concerned about the potential impact on the community. This story highlights the tension between the federal government's plans and the city's limited ability to hold DHS and ICE accountable to their commitments.

The details

According to Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor, DHS officials claimed the facility will have a maximum capacity of 542 beds and that detainees will only be held there for 3-7 days before being transferred. DHS also promised 'limited visibility' of ICE operations in the community and 'discreet' transportation of detainees. However, city officials admit these promises are not legally binding, and activists argue the proposed capacity is 'laughable' compared to other similar facilities that can hold thousands of detainees for months at a time.

  • DHS finalized the purchase of the 400,000-square-foot warehouse in January 2026 without the city's knowledge.
  • Surprise officials met with DHS representatives in Washington, D.C. on March 19, 2026 to discuss the planned detention center.
  • Sartor held a press conference on March 31, 2026 to reveal details from the meeting with DHS.
  • The new ICE detention center is set to open as soon as June 2026.

The players

Kevin Sartor

The Mayor of Surprise, Arizona who met with DHS officials and held a press conference about the planned ICE detention center.

Andrea Davis

The City Manager of Surprise, Arizona who met with DHS representatives in Washington, D.C.

Brent Peak

The co-chair of the Northwest Valley Indivisible activist group, which has been protesting against the planned ICE detention facility.

Johnny Melton

A Surprise City Councilmember who wants an enforceable promise that ICE and DHS will keep their word about the facility's operations.

Kris Mayes

The Attorney General of Arizona, whom activists want Surprise officials to work with to potentially sue DHS and stop the detention center.

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What they’re saying

“It's about half the size of other facilities that are slotted to hold 7,000 to 10,000 detainees, and they want us to believe that they're only going to hold a few hundred in there.”

— Brent Peak, Co-chair, Northwest Valley Indivisible

“The bottom line here is that we don't trust ICE or DHS. They are going to put as many people as they can in there. It is a human warehouse, and they want to fill it up.”

— Brent Peak, Co-chair, Northwest Valley Indivisible

“An MOU isn't worth the paper it's written on. It's not a commitment, it's not a promise, it's not a law. It's a promise waiting to be broken.”

— Brent Peak, Co-chair, Northwest Valley Indivisible

What’s next

Surprise officials have requested a 'cost economy mechanism' for local services that the detention center may rely on, but those details have yet to be provided by DHS. The city also wants to receive a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DHS to try to hold the agency accountable to its promises, though activists argue an MOU is not legally enforceable.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges cities face in trying to hold the federal government accountable for the impacts of immigration enforcement facilities, even when officials make specific promises about their operations. Activists are calling on Surprise to take legal action, but the mayor believes the facility's presence is unstoppable.