Washington, D.C
Proposed DHS warehouse in Surprise draws hundreds following discussions in Washington D.C.
SURPRISE, Ariz. – It was a packed house in and outside of Surprise City Council meeting Tuesday as people opposed to and in favor of the DHS warehouse coming to the city gathered to hear discussion on Mayor Kevin Sartor’s meeting with the Department of Homeland Security last week.
The backstory:
On March 30, Sartor said that progress is being made between city leaders and DHS after their meeting in Washington D.C. over the proposed warehouse near Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road. The facility would be a short term processing site for single adults only.
In January 2026, DHS bought the 418,000-square-foot warehouse for more than $70 million, according to Maricopa County property records. Retrofitting the facility is expected to cost $150 million and create nearly 1,400 jobs. Over three years, operations are projected to cost $180 million while generating approximately $16 million in annual tax revenue.
“My message today is one of progress but not finality,” Sartor said.
What we know:
DHS said the warehouse will likely open this fall. They added that there would be minimal footprint and no major increase in activity.
There will be a Community Relations Board with representation from Surprise to provide oversight and coordination. Once the facility is opened, that board will begin meeting.
What they’re saying:
Dysart High School is less than 1 mile from the proposed facility. Student council members Cali Overs and Elijah Perez Cardona are calling on leaders to take a stand.
“If we’re required to receive an education, the federal government should be required to make sure that we feel safe,” said Overs, Dysart High School student body vice president.
“There’s numerous citizens and students, families that have all publicly stated they don’t want this to happen,” student council member Cardona said.
The other side:
Not everyone was opposed to the warehouse— a group of counter-protesters also showed up in support.
“It would be great,” said counter-protester Nathan Remillard. “This would protect people in the community, and it would, prosper truth and law.”
Surprise neighbor Lynne Gehling brought a new concern to Tuesday’s meeting, saying the Rinchem chemical storage facility next door does not have a risk management plan updated to account for the hundreds of people who could be held at the facility.
“There’s a huge amount of acids and chemicals there at that facility,” Gehling said. “I hope the City Council listens to us and validates our concerns and says, ‘What is the plan here?’ Make sure people are safe if they’re incarcerated.”
Dig deeper:
Brent Peak, an organizer with Northwest Valley Indivisible, was disappointed there was no official vote on the city’s stance on the warehouse. But with multiple council members expressing concerns over the past few weeks, he has hope.
“We had hoped that perhaps a resolution from the council might come out of this,” said Peak. “It’s a little bit too late for that. But we hope to hear that, one is recommended.”
What’s next:
DHS recently said it will be reviewing previous warehouse purchases made under former Director Kristi Noem. A spokesperson with the city of Surprise told FOX 10 they did not have any information to share on that subject.
The Source: This information was gathered from attendees at the Surprise City Council meeting on April 7 and previous FOX 10 reports.
Homebuyers are canceling contracts at record rates
Discover why homebuyers are canceling contracts at a record rate, impacting a housing market filled with uncertainty.
The Washington DC area is known as one of the most expensive parts of the country to rent a home, and renters across the region are feeling the squeeze as prices climb.
Where you live in the DMV can significantly impact your monthly rent, with some cities commanding far higher prices than others.
Zumper, a digital marketplace for rentals, recently released its report of the most and lease expensive cities in the DMV to rent a 1-bedroom home.
Here’s what to know.
What are the most expensive cities to rent in the Washington DC area?
It’s not DC, but rather Arlington, Virginia, that is the most expensive rental market in the area.
Zumper says the average 1-bedroom rent in Arlington is $2,459, around $200 more than DC, which has an average rent of $2,253 as of April 10.
Arlington’s price is actually down, according to Zumper. The April 2026 average rental cost is a 3% improvement from last year.
The most expensive neighborhood in Arlington is Clarendon Courthouse, the website says.
Two other Virginia cities — Alexandria and Falls Church — also have an average rent above $2,000. In Alexandria, renters can expect to pay around $2,255 monthly and Falls Church renters pay about $2,270 for 1-bedroom homes.
The average price in Bethesda, Maryland, nearly matches Arlington’s. At $2,447, it is the highest 1-bedroom average of DC’s Maryland suburbs.
Just outside Bethesda, the average rent in Chevy Chase for a 1-bedroom is $2,386.
What are the most affordable cities to rent in the Washington DC area?
Hagerstown, Maryland — about a 70-mile drive northwest from DC — is the most affordable city in the DMV, with average rent for a 1-bedroom at $995.
Winchester is the most affordable of DC’s Virginia suburbs with an average 1-bedroom rent of $1,400.
If you’re looking for an affordable rental in DC, Zumper says the Congress Heights, Brookland and Anacostia neighborhoods are the best options.
What are the rental trends nationally?
Apartmentlist.com says rent prices are down 1.7% from this time a year ago, a sign the market may be cooling slightly after years of steep increases.
Nationally, the median rent sits at $1,363.
This year was expected to be a good year for rent affordability, according to Zillow, which said in its 2026 housing market predictions that renters should see improvements.
“Rent affordability is expected to continue improving in most of the country after a year in which 37 of the 50 biggest markets saw incomes grow faster than rents,” Zillow said.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Congress returns to Washington following a two-week recess with hopes of ending the nearly two-month-long shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Republican congressional leaders have agreed to a two-part plan. Part one would pass a bipartisan spending bill to fund most of DHS, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol. That measure is now in the House.
Part two hinges on budget reconciliation to fund those other two agencies. The process passes budgetary measures using a simple majority, allowing the GOP to bypass a potential Democratic-led Senate filibuster.
Also this week, Israeli and Lebanese officials are set to meet in Washington to discuss a potential ceasefire in Lebanon.
Israeli forces have been fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Those military operations have become a major sticking point in ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Thursday, White House Budget Chief Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is set to testify in front of the Senate Budget Committee about President Donald Trump’s proposed budget.
It calls for major increases in defense spending while cutting spending on domestic programs.
Copyright 2026 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Chilly Sunday morning
- Sunny, dry afternoon
- Will feel like summer on Monday
- Record temperatures possible Wednesday and Thursday
After a great Saturday with breezy conditions and above-normal temperatures in the 70s, we are going to wake up to a chilly morning on Sunday.
Grab your light jackets if you need to head out early in the morning to walk the dog. Morning lows will be near-average in the upper 40s for the metro area.
After a chilly start, Sunday is looking great for outdoor plans. Another great day with sunny skies, dry conditions and highs in the 70s.
We are tracking a big warmup for next week! A strong ridge of high pressure is bringing summer-like heat starting on Monday, with highs in the 80s. Record temperatures are possible Wednesday and Thursday. Both days we could reach 91 degrees. We typically see our first 90 degree day by May 19.
We might have a light rain chance on Monday afternoon, but most of the workweek will be dry.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
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