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Residents demand action after DHS buys Sweetwater warehouse near Dysart High School
Summary
Hundreds of Surprise residents and community groups pressed the City Council to oppose and seek oversight after the Department of Homeland Security purchased a Sweetwater-area warehouse the public says ICE intends to convert into a 1,500-bed detention facility; speakers asked for transparency, impact studies and city-level limits on cooperation.
At a packed Surprise City Council meeting, residents urged the council to act after the Department of Homeland Security purchased a warehouse on Sweetwater Avenue that speakers said ICE plans to convert into a 1,500-bed detention facility.
Why it matters: Commenters said the site is close to Dysart High School and multiple elementary schools and argued the facility would strain water, sewer, emergency services and public safety resources while inflicting lasting harm on community trust and children's sense of safety.
The meeting turned largely into public comment. Mayor Kevin Sarter told the chamber the city had not been notified before the federal purchase and reminded residents that federal projects are not always subject to local zoning. "The city was not aware that the efforts were underway to purchase a building that was secured by Department of Homeland Security," he said, while urging civil discourse during the comment period.
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