Arizona Attorney General Files 41st Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Planned ICE Facility

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking to halt the conversion of a warehouse in Surprise into an immigration detention and processing facility, alleging violations of federal environmental and immigration law.

The complaint, filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), names DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons as defendants. 

The lawsuit seeks to block the planned use of a 418,400-square-foot warehouse near Dysart Road and Sweetwater Avenue as a detention facility for migrants. 

@AZAGMayes announces lawsuit against federal government over ICE detention center coming to Surprise. @azfamily pic.twitter.com/oqM1fNT7w2

— Amy Cutler (@AmyCutlerNews) April 24, 2026

According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office, the lawsuit alleges federal agencies failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires environmental review and public input before major federal actions. The complaint states DHS proceeded with the project without conducting the required environmental analysis or consulting the surrounding community. 

“Given its location in a potential chemical hazard zone, the Surprise facility is not, and will never be, suitable for use as a mass detention facility,” the AG’s Office stated. “Because the federal government has conducted no environmental review, the State has no way of knowing how they plan to modify the warehouse for its new purpose. As currently constructed, the Surprise Warehouse almost certainly lacks the water and wastewater infrastructure needed to safely house that many people.”

The filing also alleges violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act, arguing the proposed facility would not meet statutory standards for appropriate detention conditions. The complaint cites the site’s industrial zoning and proximity to a facility storing hazardous chemicals as factors that could pose risks to detainees in the event of an emergency. 

We will do everything in our power to demand accountability from the federal government and to protect the health and safety of this community.

Press Release: https://t.co/bLJyGp1Ub9 pic.twitter.com/z1BxlvXUzD

— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) April 24, 2026

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Mayes said the state is seeking to prevent the federal government from proceeding without complying with federal law and to address potential risks to the surrounding community. 

“The Trump administration has run roughshod over federal law in its rush to expand detention capacity across the country,” Mayes said. “The federal government did not ask the people of Surprise whether they wanted this facility in their backyards. They simply bought a warehouse, handed a $300 million contract to a private company, and told the City to deal with it. We will do everything in our power to demand accountability from the federal government and to protect the health and safety of this community.”

The legal action against DHS is Mayes’ 41^st lawsuit launched against the Trump Administration since taking office, according to The Arizona Republic, continuing a pattern of the Democrat AG consistently opposing, and joining other states’ opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies.

The warehouse was purchased earlier this year for more than $70 million as part of a broader federal effort to expand detention capacity nationwide, as previously reported by California Globe.

According to court filings and state officials, the facility was expected to house hundreds of detainees for short-term stays before transfer to larger detention centers or removal proceedings. 

Local opposition to the project has grown in recent months, with residents and advocacy groups raising concerns about the facility’s location near neighborhoods, schools, and industrial operations. City officials in Surprise have stated that their authority to block the project is limited, but they have engaged in discussions with federal agencies regarding operational conditions. 

Work at the site has already begun, including the installation of fencing and the presence of contracted personnel. Federal officials have indicated the project’s timeline has been delayed, with an anticipated opening date pushed back amid leadership changes and funding uncertainties. 

Arizona’s lawsuit follows similar legal challenges filed by other states over the conversion of warehouses into immigration detention facilities, including cases in New Jersey and Maryland, where a federal judge has halted at least one project.