Surprise officials announce new ICE facility expected to open this fall

The proposed 542-bed detention center has raised concerns among residents and some city council members.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:42am

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Surprise city leaders have detailed plans for a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility expected to open in the West Valley this fall. The proposed 542-bed detention center, which could eventually expand to 1,500 beds, has raised concerns among residents and some city council members over issues like water usage, proximity to Luke Air Force Base, and the potential for ICE agents to conduct patrols in the community.

Why it matters

The new ICE facility has sparked ongoing controversy in Surprise, with residents and some city officials expressing distrust over federal authorities' commitments to limit the facility's operations and impact on the local community. The debate highlights the broader tensions around immigration enforcement and detention policies playing out across the country.

The details

According to city officials, the ICE facility is expected to process about 250 undocumented immigrants per week, with detainees being sent to other facilities outside Arizona within a week of arrival. ICE and Department of Homeland Security leadership have made assurances that the facility will not house families and that ICE agents will not conduct unwarranted patrols or enter schools, senior centers, or churches in Surprise. However, some council members remain skeptical of these promises, stating that the federal government has not put the commitments in writing.

  • The ICE facility is expected to become operational this fall.
  • City officials shared new details about the facility during a packed City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Surprise City Council

The local government body that has been debating the plans for the new ICE facility and raising concerns about its potential impact on the community.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that will be operating the new detention facility in Surprise, Arizona.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency that oversees ICE and has made assurances to Surprise city officials about the facility's operations.

Councilmember Johnny Melton

A Surprise City Council member who has expressed concerns about ICE agents being present in the community, including at the Dysart community center and local schools.

Councilmember Chris Judd

A Surprise City Council member who has raised skepticism about the federal government's commitments and the facility's potential impact on water usage and Luke Air Force Base.

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What they’re saying

“I can't have ICE agents in the Dysart community center I can't have them in our schools.”

— Councilmember Johnny Melton, Surprise City Council member

“They could also be shining us on to get us to shut the heck up so they can get far enough along so we no longer have the ability to stop this.”

— Councilmember Chris Judd, Surprise City Council member

What’s next

The Surprise City Council is exploring options to hold the federal government accountable and get the DHS's commitments about the facility's operations memorialized in writing.

The takeaway

The debate over the new ICE facility in Surprise highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and detention policies, with local officials and residents expressing concerns about the facility's potential impact on the community despite assurances from federal authorities.