ICE Confirms Detention Facility Planned for Massive West Valley Warehouse Purchase

Federal immigration officials have confirmed that a recently purchased industrial warehouse in Arizona’s West Valley will be used as an immigration detention and processing facility, following days of uncertainty surrounding the $70 million acquisition. Additional reporting by California Globe has identified the facility’s proximity to nearby schools and residential developments.

According to reporting by The Arizona Republic, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that the warehouse in Surprise is intended to support detention operations, including space for approximately 1,500 detainees. The acknowledgment came after local officials said they were initially unaware of the federal government’s plans for the property.

The more than 418,000-square-foot facility—roughly the size of seven football fields, as reported by 12News—is located near Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road in Surprise, a fast-growing suburb in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Property records show the building was purchased earlier this month in an all-cash transaction by the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE.

Purchase Came Without Advance Local Notice

The warehouse, previously marketed as the Surprise Pointe Commerce Center, was sold by RG Surprise LLC. City officials told 12News earlier this week that they were not notified in advance of the purchase and had not received any permit applications or development plans indicating a detention facility would operate at the site.

A spokesperson for the City of Surprise told the outlet the city “was not aware of any proposed project or facility of this nature associated with that address” at the time the purchase became public.

In a subsequent statement posted to X, the city repeated that it was not aware of the project and added that Surprise Police do not participate in ICE operations, stating, “We also cannot interrupt or prevent their operations.”

A STATEMENT FROM THE CITY OF SURPRISE

The City of Surprise is aware that a commercial building within our city was recently purchased by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  

We understand there are questions about the potential presence of DHS in Surprise, as well as… pic.twitter.com/aBiTe5oGIw

— City of Surprise (@AZSurprise) January 30, 2026

While federal agencies are generally exempt from local zoning approval, facilities may still be subject to certain safety, utility, and occupancy requirements depending on their use.

Federal Officials Confirm Detention Role

In an email statement cited by The Arizona Republic, an ICE spokesperson confirmed that the Surprise facility will be used for detention and processing purposes as part of the agency’s broader enforcement operations. The agency did not provide a timeline for when the facility would become operational or whether detainees would be transferred from existing locations in Arizona or other states.

ICE officials told the Republic that the agency is prioritizing enforcement actions against individuals with criminal histories, though details about staffing levels and daily operations at the Surprise site have not been disclosed.

In a related post to X, responding to Washington Post reporting, the Department of Homeland Security stated, 

“These will not be warehouses — they will be well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards. 

DHS law enforcement 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.   

Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE has new funding to expand detention space to keep these criminals off American streets before they are removed for good from our communities.”

The statement was issued in response to national media coverage of ICE’s multi-state expansion of detention capacity.

These will not be warehouses — they will be well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards.

DHS law enforcement is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. It should not come as news that ICE will be making… https://t.co/IMnFIu690z

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 30, 2026

Proximity to Schools and Residential Development

According to on-site mapping conducted by a California Globe reporter, the facility is located approximately 0.9 miles from Dysart High School, a public high school at 11925 N. Dysart Road in neighboring El Mirage, and roughly a quarter mile from the Dysart Cactus residential development, placing the proposed detention facility in close proximity to established neighborhoods and community institutions.

The surrounding area includes residential subdivisions, retail centers, and other commercial developments, and is positioned near a major arterial roadway, adding to local interest in how the federal facility will ultimately operate.

Community and Political Context

Arizona has long been a focal point of national immigration policy due to its proximity to the southern border and its role in ongoing federal-state disputes over immigration enforcement. The scale and location of the Surprise facility have drawn attention from residents and local officials seeking greater transparency about the project.

A recent upsurge of anti-immigration enforcement protests throughout the state, as previously reported by California Globe, also indicates increasing political tensions in the state surrounding immigration law enforcement.

The Surprise acquisition follows a broader pattern of ICE acquiring or leasing large industrial properties nationwide, often near major transportation corridors, as the agency moves to expand detention and processing capacity.

What Happens Next

As of this report, neither ICE nor DHS has announced construction timelines, staffing plans, or an expected opening date for the Surprise facility. Local officials said they will continue monitoring public records and permit filings related to the site.

What began as a quiet federal real estate transaction has become a confirmed component of the expanding national immigration detention infrastructure under the Trump Administration, marking a significant development in Arizona’s evolving role in federal immigration enforcement.