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.
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VIRGINIA – World Cup excitement continued to grow across the Washington region Tuesday as Croatia’s national soccer team arrived at Dulles International Airport ahead of the tournament.
The team’s plane touched down shortly before 4:30 p.m. under clear skies at a private area of the airport. While fans were not able to greet the players upon arrival, media crews watched as team members eventually boarded buses and departed the airport, with some players waving as they passed by.
The buses carrying the team were escorted from the airport by Alexandria police as Croatia headed to its World Cup home base in Alexandria.
Local perspective:
The team’s arrival comes just days after Alexandria celebrated Croatia with a community festival called “Flavors & Sounds of Croatia.” The family-friendly event featured music, games and cultural activities while highlighting the growing partnership between the city and Croatia.
Alexandria was selected by the Croatian national team as its base camp for the tournament. The team is expected to stay at a local hotel and train at a high school in the city during its time in the region.
Local businesses are also joining the celebration.
Shops throughout Old Town Alexandria are participating in “Shop the Checkers,” a promotion featuring Croatian-themed displays, discounts, giveaways and flags displayed outside participating stores, according to city officials.
What you can do:
World Cup festivities are planned throughout the D.C. area in the coming weeks.
District officials announced public watch parties will begin Friday at Franklin Park, where fans can gather to watch matches, including the United States’ game against Paraguay.
Additional events are scheduled for June 19 to 21 at Tingey Plaza in Navy Yard
The Source: Information from FOX 5 D.C. reporting, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office and the Croatian Football Federation.
The ethics board for the D.C. government has censured Council member Trayon White and fined him $900 for failing to disclose his personal finances three separate times.
White violated the city’s code of conduct and undermined the public trust when he missed the deadlines to disclose his finances in November 2024, May 2025 and November 2025, the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability said in its decision Monday.
Council members are required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Statement (PFDS) twice a year and White was aware of his obligation to file, the board said.
“Public service is a public trust. The requirement for elected officials to file public financial
disclosures stems from the recognition that they should be held to a higher standard,” Norma Hutcheson, chairperson for the board, said in the decision. “The Council held themselves to that higher standard by requiring that Councilmembers file semiannual disclosure reports, instead of the annual reports required for other public officials … [White’s] failure to file the three reports at issue undermines that public confidence.”
White is back on the D.C. Council months after fellow legislators expelled him.
White is expected to go to trial later this year for a federal bribery charge. He was indicted in 2024, accused of agreeing to accept $156,000 in exchange for using his position to pressure employees of the D.C. Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to extend several contracts, prosecutors said.
White received $35,000 in four cash payments in the alleged scheme, according to court documents.
He was reelected to the Ward 8 seat after the D.C. Council expelled him in February 2025.
In January, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said she “can’t wait” for White’s trial.
“I expect a conviction,” she added. “I think the evidence is solid. I’ve seen the evidence. I don’t like individuals who work for government – whether it’s federal, state, local – and who use that as an opportunity to line their pockets. It’s unacceptable.”
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