Arizona sues to block proposed ICE mass detention facility near site with hazardous chemicals

Key Points:

• Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to block a proposed ICE mass detention facility near a chemical storage site in Surprise, citing lack of required environmental reviews and violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• The lawsuit alleges the warehouse, purchased for $70 million and retrofitted with over $300 million in contracts, was originally an industrial distribution center located near hazardous chemicals, making it unsuitable for housing up to 1,500 detainees.
• ICE claims it evaluated environmental impacts before acquiring the site and argues the lawsuit is politically motivated, aiming to hinder efforts to enhance immigration detention capacity.
• Similar opposition has arisen in other states, including Georgia and Maryland, where local officials and attorneys general have challenged federal plans to open large detention centers due to concerns over infrastructure strain and environmental safety.
• Congress allocated $45 billion in 2025 for expanding ICE detention capacity, with funds available through 2029, underpinning the federal government's push to increase detention facilities despite local resistance.