Arizona Senators Demand DHS to Pause ICE Facility Expansions
In a recent move, Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly have urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to cease the development of new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Arizona. The senators are particularly focused on a proposed warehouse in Surprise and the conversion of an old jail in Marana, near Tucson.
In their communication to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Gallego and Kelly referenced a previous request made in February for more detailed plans regarding these facilities. Reports have indicated that ICE has been strategizing to broaden its detention capacity in the state for several months. However, this expansion has only recently been acknowledged by ICE to local authorities.
The senators expressed frustration over the lack of response to their initial inquiry from February, demanding a halt to all expansion activities until their concerns are adequately addressed. The letter from Gallego and Kelly stated, “Despite that letter and concerns raised by local, state, and federal officials, the Department has continued to move forward with acquisitions and contracts with only minimal public input or transparency—leaving communities to learn primarily through public reporting about major decisions that will impact them for years.” They further criticized DHS for meeting with local leaders only after major decisions had been finalized.
The timing of this letter coincides with reports of record-high deaths in ICE detention centers, including the recent death of a 27-year-old Cuban national in Miami, marking the 17th death in custody this year.
Adding to the complexity, oversight mechanisms that traditionally ensure the humane treatment and conditions within detention facilities have significantly diminished, raising concerns about the lack of accountability and transparency in ICE operations.
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