Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar Presses DHS for Detailed Answers on Planned ICE Facility in Surprise

U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ09) has formally requested detailed information from the Department of Homeland Security regarding a planned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Surprise, Arizona.

In a Feb. 4 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gosar submitted 15 written questions seeking clarity on the selection, operation, funding, timeline, and community impact of the proposed facility, as previously reported by The California Globe.

Gosar represents Arizona’s 9th Congressional District, which includes Surprise. In the letter, he asked DHS who was consulted prior to selecting the site, whether local governments and public safety agencies were notified, how traffic and infrastructure impacts would be addressed, and what security measures would be in place to protect nearby neighborhoods, schools, and businesses.

“A detention facility of the reported size raises legitimate and reasonable questions for nearby residents, schools, first responders, and local governments,” Gosar wrote, citing concerns related to infrastructure capacity, traffic, emergency services, environmental impacts, and public safety. 

Gosar also asked DHS to specify the facility’s planned capacity, the population to be housed there, whether operations would be run directly by DHS or by contractors, and whether the facility is intended to operate on a temporary or permanent basis. He also asked, “What contingency plans does DHS have in place should detention numbers exceed the facility’s planned capacity, and would such contingencies involve expansion of this site or the use of additional facilities in or near Surprise?”

Looking to the future detention capacity expansion efforts of DHS, the Congressman asked, “What formal process does DHS intend to use to communicate regularly with Members of Congress and state and local officials regarding the facility’s status, operations, and any material changes to its scope or mission?”

The facility was first reported by The Arizona Republic on Jan. 29, which stated that DHS purchased a 418,400-square-foot warehouse for more than $70 million in cash near Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road in Surprise. ICE confirmed the following day that the building would be converted into a processing facility with approximately 1,500 beds.

The warehouse is located about four miles from Surprise City Hall and is situated among industrial buildings, but it is also near residential neighborhoods, schools, grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

According to Maricopa County property records referenced in the reporting, DHS purchased the property on Jan. 23 from the Rockefeller Group, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement listed in the transaction.

Surprise city officials have stated publicly that they were not informed of the purchase or the federal government’s plans in advance and noted that federal projects are not subject to local zoning regulations, limiting the city’s authority over the development.

Public opposition followed the announcement. Over 800 people protested in Surprise on Jan. 31, as previously reported, and additional demonstrations occurred during and outside the Surprise City Council meeting on Feb. 3, where residents urged city leaders to formally oppose the facility and explore possible avenues to intervene.

In his letter, Gosar said he strongly supports ICE and the enforcement of federal immigration law, but emphasized that the concerns raised were not opposition to immigration enforcement. He described them as “common-sense expectations of transparency, planning, and accountability.”

Gosar requested that DHS provide written responses within 10 business days of receiving the letter.

Secretary Noem was in Arizona on Wednesday, speaking at the U.S.-Mexico border, where, while not addressing the Surprise facility directly, she challenged the narrative that failing to enforce immigration laws would be “compassionate,” according to Fox News. 

NEW: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sounds off on what she calls four years of "chaos, destruction, and death" while challenging the left's "compassionate" claims behind open-border policies:

“They said it was compassionate to let millions of people come in unvetted and be subjected… pic.twitter.com/POkbg6AYHQ

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 4, 2026

She countered by saying, “They said it was compassionate to let millions of people come in unvetted and be subjected to murderers and smugglers and cartels and gang members. Was it compassionate to make Americans share their communities with criminals?“

According to ABC15, Noem confirmed to reporters that holding facilities are being constructed nationwide. An ICE spokesman told the outlet, “ICE purchased land in Surprise, Arizona to build a processing facility that will hold approximately 1,500 beds,” in a statement. “Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.”