Arizona Takes Legal Action to Halt Proposed ICE Detention Center Near Hazardous Site

Arizona has initiated legal proceedings against the federal government, seeking to prevent the establishment of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mass detention facility in Surprise, a city reportedly adjacent to a site containing hazardous chemicals.

“The Trump administration has disregarded federal law in its haste to expand detention capacity nationwide,” stated Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose office filed the lawsuit on Friday.

Mayes contends that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have failed to conduct or disclose necessary environmental assessments prior to the facility's opening. The lawsuit further claims that the proposed center, which could accommodate between hundreds and 1,500 detainees, breaches the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires the federal government to secure "appropriate" locations for immigration detention.

An ICE representative responded, asserting that prior to acquiring the site, the agency thoroughly assessed existing facilities to mitigate environmental impacts, including potential effects on protected species and sensitive natural resources.

The spokesperson emphasized that the lawsuit is not fundamentally about environmental concerns but rather an attempt to obstruct President Trump's efforts to enhance national safety.

In July 2025, Congress allocated $45 billion to ICE for "single adult alien detention capacity and family residential center capacity," with funds available until September 2029. The federal government purchased the warehouse in Surprise for $70 million on January 23, with contracts exceeding $300 million issued for its retrofitting.

The lawsuit argues that the warehouse was designed as an industrial distribution facility for multiple commercial tenants, not as a detention center. Court documents reveal that it is located directly across from a chemical storage facility housing thousands of gallons of hazardous materials. The warehouse reportedly contains over 100,000 square feet dedicated to storing hazardous chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Requests for comment from DHS regarding Arizona's allegations about hazardous chemicals near the proposed detention site went unanswered prior to publication.

DHS has encountered resistance from various cities and states where it plans to establish mass detention facilities. Recently, the Atlanta City Council passed a resolution opposing the construction or operation of large-scale immigration detention centers in Atlanta. This resolution highlighted concerns about a newly acquired warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia, which could potentially house up to 10,000 detainees, raising alarms about infrastructure strain.

Reports indicated that DHS had paused plans for the Atlanta detention center. City Manager Eric Taylor noted he learned of this pause through online sources, stating that all ICE detention centers were under review.

In Maryland, Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a lawsuit in March against ICE and DHS following the federal acquisition of a warehouse near Williamsport intended for conversion into a detention facility. In response to court documents, the government claimed all necessary reviews had been completed and that the plaintiffs' arguments did not warrant a preliminary injunction in the public interest. However, a Maryland judge granted a preliminary injunction on April 15, halting construction of the detention facility while legal proceedings continue.