Last month, the Department of Homeland Security, amid its efforts to set up temporary detention facilities nationwide, confirmed it purchased a $70 million warehouse in an Arizona suburb.
Latest reports indicate that the DHS hired the same company behind the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in Florida’s Everglades for the new warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, which is just outside of Phoenix. Surrounded by alligators, crocodiles, tortoises and snakes, the Florida facility had a price tag of $608 million.
GardaWorld Federal Services is set to revitalize the commercial warehouse in Surprise, receiving $313.4 million for this contract.
“This was done without any local input or the slightest concern for the surrounding community,” a letter, cosigned by Democratic U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, and addressed to the DHS, stated.
“The decision to convert a warehouse not designed or zoned for human habitation into a large-scale detention facility on an expedited basis raises profound questions about contractor qualifications, concerns for human health and safety, and the humane treatment of individuals who will be held there.”
Local governments kept out of the loop
The letter also noted that the security contractor GardaWorld has never directly overseen the revocation of a detention facility and bypassed the typical bidding system to receive a federal award.
Democratic lawmakers are pushing back against the Trump administration’s immigration policies by targeting this contractor’s lack of experience and raising land use concerns.
“At a time when in-custody deaths are reaching record highs, it is deeply alarming that DHS is handing out massive federal contracts to companies with no experience operating detention facilities,” said Grijalva.
As one longtime attorney and a former DHS employee, Andy Gordon, told AZ Family, “These facilities are very difficult to operate, and they’re very expensive. You’ve got to provide health care — just a whole raft of things.”
“And with an inexperienced operator, you’re just begging for trouble,” he added.
Earlier this week, Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor told KTAR News 92.3 FM that city officials haven’t been informed of the plans for the federal facility in the suburban area.
“We’re still trying to get information,” Sartor said.
“I don’t know what happens at the federal level and what the Trump administration — DHS — does, and if they’re trying to keep it more secretive — I don’t know if that’s the right word — but keep it tighter-lipped until it rolls out, so they didn’t have opposition,” Sartor said.
“From the local side, it would have been, I think, a lot better to have the information and help navigate that process with our residents.”
Nationwide scrutiny over temporary U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is facing pushback across the board amid its operation to deport immigrants in the country illegally.
In El Paso, Texas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement replaced the existing operator with a more experienced contractor after claims of poor conditions plaguing a 3,000-person facility made headlines. The new contractor, Camp East Montana, is expected to bring in more staff and improve medical care.
Strong local opposition has persuaded companies based in California, Texas, and Virginia to cancel deals. So far, this isn’t the case in Utah.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased a warehouse in Salt Lake City in a deal that was finalized earlier this week. The $145 million transaction has sparked concerns among locals, officials and residents, as KSL.com reported.
“I am deeply disturbed to learn that an 833,000-square-foot warehouse near the Salt Lake City airport has reportedly been purchased by the federal government for what would likely become a massive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility,” Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said in a statement.
“This time the obstacles may be greater, but our commitment must be just as strong. We cannot allow aggressive and often unlawful federal enforcement tactics to take root in our community.”
The idea behind building eight “mega” warehouse detention centers and 16 regional processing centers in major American cities is largely driven by the Trump White House’s “mass deportation agenda,” which includes deporting up to 1 million migrants annually. The administration has budgeted $38.3 billion to make its policy a reality.
These e-commerce warehouses, converted to detention facilities, can accommodate thousands of beds. They are meant to serve as a place to hold people who are awaiting transfer or deportation and to shorten the overall processing time.
Could additional facilities keep detainees closer to families, attorneys?
There could be benefits to having additional deportation facilities close to population centers. A 2018 audit of the federal prison system found that keeping inmates close to their family members eases the harm of separation. It also allows the prisoner to access local resources, the court system, and family connections.
Although detention facilities are part of the civil immigration process and not related to criminal punishment, placing them close to their communities could allow them to receive similar support.
The access to international airports for deportation flights is another reason why the federal government is placing these temporary processing centers in cities. According to an internal DHS memo, the federal government’s goal is to “increase bed capacity to 92,600 beds” and have all facilities active by November 2026.