Arizona sues to block proposed ICE mass detention facility near site with hazardous chemicals
Arizona has sued the federal authorities to block a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement mass detention facility near a site within the metropolis of Surprise allegedly stuffed with hazardous chemicals.
“The Trump administration has run roughshod over federal law in its rush to expand detention capacity across the country,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose workplace filed the lawsuit Friday, said in an announcement.
Mayes claims the Department of Homeland Security and ICE haven’t performed or printed the required environmental evaluations for opening a facility. The lawsuit additionally alleges the proposed facility — which might home anyplace from a whole bunch to up to 1,500 people — violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, which mandates the federal authorities organize for “appropriate” locations for immigration detention.
An ICE spokesperson instructed CBS News that earlier than buying this site, the company fastidiously evaluated using current amenities to assist reduce environmental impacts, “including potential impacts to protected species, sensitive natural resources, and valued cultural resources.”
The spokesperson added that the lawsuit wasn’t concerning the surroundings, “It’s about trying to stop President Trump from making America safe.”
Congress appropriated $45 billion to ICE in July 2025 for “single adult alien detention capacity and family residential center capacity,” to stay obtainable for obligation by means of September 2029, the lawsuit mentioned. One of these lately acquired processing websites is the warehouse within the metropolis of Surprise, which courtroom paperwork mentioned the federal authorities bought for $70 million on Jan. 23. The federal authorities has issued contracts for over $300 million to retrofit the warehouse.
The lawsuit alleges the warehouse was not constructed as an area to home a whole bunch of individuals, however as an industrial distribution facility for up to 4 business tenants. Court paperwork say the warehouse “sits directly across the street from a chemical storage facility containing thousands of gallons of hazardous materials.” The warehouse consists of greater than 100,000 ft of containerized hazardous supplies storage for chemicals utilized in semiconductor manufacturing, in accordance to the lawsuit.
CBS News reached out to DHS for remark particularly relating to Arizona’s claims that there are hazardous chemicals in a warehouse throughout the road from the proposed detention facility, however didn’t obtain a response earlier than publication.
DHS has confronted opposition from different cities and states the place the federal authorities plans to open mass detention amenities.
The Atlanta City Council approved a decision earlier this week opposing the development or operation of large-scale immigration detention facilities in Atlanta. The decision raised issues a few lately bought warehouse in Social Circle, Georgiathat might maintain up to 10,000 detainees, which native officers mentioned might pressure infrastructure like water and sewer techniques.
CBS News Atlanta reported Earlier this month that DHS had paused plans to open the detention middle. City Manager Eric Taylor mentioned he learn concerning the pause on-line and that every one ICE detention facilities had been paused whereas present process a course of assessment.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a lawsuit in March towards ICE and DHS after the federal authorities bought a warehouse near Williamsport to flip right into a detention facility.
The authorities mentioned in responding courtroom paperwork that every one vital evaluations had been performed and the plaintiffs’ claims didn’t reveal a preliminary injunction could be within the public curiosity. A Maryland choose granted a preliminary injunction on April 15 to cease the development of the detention facility whereas the lawsuit performs out.