No Borders NewsArizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE to stop a proposed detention facility in Surprise, Arizona.
According to the lawsuit, the federal government has not conducted or publicly shared the environmental review required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before proceeding. The state says NEPA requires at least one formal step, such as a categorical exclusion, an environmental impact statement, or an environmental assessment with a public finding of no significant impact.
The state also argues the proposal violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires the federal government to use “appropriate” places for immigration detention. The lawsuit describes the proposed site as being in or near a potential chemical hazard area, including a nearby facility that stores hazardous chemicals.
The complaint says the building being considered was originally an industrial distribution warehouse designed for commercial tenants, not for hundreds to as many as 1,500 people at a time. It also raises concerns that the warehouse may not have the water and wastewater infrastructure needed for that kind of use, and that the plan could increase traffic and strain emergency services.
The state points to a nearby chemical warehouse’s Risk Management Plan filed on January 1, 2026, saying it does not account for the additional hazards that could come from a mass detention facility next door. The AG’s office says it will seek accountability and aims to protect community health and safety while the case proceeds.