Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Arizona this week after receiving criticism over her role in Minnesota.
She greeted a group of 50 or so supporters and a row of Border Patrol agents at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Tuesday. She took photos and shook hands with her supporters.
The same day, hundreds of residents of Surprise, a Phoenix suburb, packed into a city council meeting to oppose a rumored 1,500-person detention facility in their neighborhood.
The DHS purchased a $70 million warehouse in Surprise, one of several purchases the department made in recent months. The DHS is expected to establish 23 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities to hold between 1,500 and 10,000 detainees at a time, according to a Washington Post report.
Republican representative opposes detention facility in Surprise
When answering a question about a rumored detention facility in the Phoenix area, Noem said, “I’m not sure if that’s under contract yet or not.”
She visited Nogales, a border town in Arizona, on Wednesday. At an event there, she thanked President Donald Trump for securing the border and the officers for patrolling it to keep Americans safe.
“For the last nine months, the Border Patrol has released zero illegal aliens into the interior of the country,” she said.
Noem has faced increased scrutiny after two fatal shootings involving federal agents took place in the past month.
Protests have escalated in Phoenix since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided about 15 Zipps Sports Grill locations, detaining more than 35 people and arresting some long-term employees.
On Tuesday, residents of West Valley in Phoenix voiced their opinion against DHS’ latest contract to create a “processing facility” to hold migrants.
U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, a Republican representing Surprise, sent a letter to the DHS requesting answers about the rumored warehouse in his district.
The warehouse is expected to be converted into a detention center for migrants apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“The rule of law is not optional,” said Gosar. While he said he supported ICE’s enforcement of immigration laws, “detention capacity is a necessary component of a functioning immigration system.”
“Reports of a large-scale detention facility in Surprise raise legitimate questions for residents, schools, first responders and local governments,” he said.
“Concerns about infrastructure, traffic, emergency services and public safety deserve serious and transparent consideration and empowering state and local officials in decisions that affect their communities consistently produces the most effective outcomes,” the letter added.
Surprise Councilman Johnny Melton said that the DHS needs to communicate with local governments.
“We learned about it the same way the community did, through a press release,” he said, as Arizona Family reported.
Arizona politicians react to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence
On Wednesday, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office launched a “Know Your Rights” website with information on how to interact with federal agents.
Hobbs has previously pointed to her limited powers as governor against the presence of federal agents in her state.
“Any elected official who tells you ‘I can keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of Arizona’ is not telling the truth,” Hobbs told KTAR News.
“We can’t. They’re federal agents. They can come in here. We have to be prepared.”
But not all Democrats have taken her approach. Last month, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes drew controversy by speaking about the Grand Canyon State’s “Stand Your Ground” laws, which allow the use of lethal force as self defense, in regards to interactions with federal agents.
Meanwhile, Arizona’s GOP-controlled Legislature is considering several bills that would increase cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
One proposal criminalizes physical obstruction or interference with a lawful arrest during ICE’s operations, requiring local authorities and hospitals to notify the federal law enforcement agencies about a suspected migrant without proper documentation.