Arizona
$313M ICE detention facility planned for Arizona warehouse divides community
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Lawmakers and community members are demanding answers about an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility set to be built in Surprise. Both sides are weighing in.
Plans for an ICE facility in Surprise are moving forward. At the same time, the battle to stop it is heating up. A Canadian company was awarded the contract this week to turn an existing warehouse into a holding facility, but it comes with all kinds of concerns.
The backstory:
The building at Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road is 400,000 square feet and was originally built for light industrial use. However, it is now set to become a regional intake facility for ICE—or as protesters call it, a “human warehouse.”
A small group of concerned citizens stands in front of the massive warehouse, which is set to become one of the largest ICE facilities in the nation, capable of holding 1,500 migrants. They are worried about everything from safety inside the building to security outside.
GardaWorld Federal, the Canadian company awarded the $313 million contract, is the same company running a controversial ICE facility in Florida nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The company claims to have decades of experience serving migrants from New Mexico to New York, including experienced security staff along with legal and medical professionals.
What they’re saying:
Not every Surprise resident is against the ICE operation. Several spoke out at a recent city council meeting.
“I support our law enforcement. They’re willing to take up that armor as well,” said one supporter. Another resident added, “Law enforcement agents are removing criminals from our neighborhood. It is much safer for me, my family, and my neighbors if those criminals are detained securely as they await deportation.”
The other side:
However, others see the project differently.
“For students, this is not a political matter. It is a safety concern and fear,” said Cali Overs, student body vice president at Dysart High School. “This is something they will have to coexist with in their everyday lives and affect their learning.”
Community leader Lisa Everett also shared her opposition. “I am a Christian and a mother, just a good person before I’m a Republican, and I’m sorry I have to say we don’t want this in Surprise.”
Beyond safety and security concerns, the group has a problem with the way the project is being handled, alleging the Trump administration is bypassing local governments and community input.
What’s next:
The facility could be renovated and ready to open by the end of the year.
The Source: Surprise city council meeting, previous FOX 10 reporting, and interviews with Cali Overs and Lisa Everett
That was the lingering element inside a quiet visitors’ clubhouse after the San Francisco Giants dropped a 6-3 decision to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon, completing a three-game sweep at Chase Field.
Republic photographer Rob Schumacher was a master with the camera
The longtime award-winning Arizona Republic photographer captured not just events with his camera, but the feelings of the big moments.
Rob Schumacher shared the triumphs and tribulations of the world with The Arizona Republic’s readers through his photography for 35 years.
Schumacher, 62, who died Sunday, May 17, covered Olympic Games, Super Bowls, Masters golf tournaments, riots and natural disasters, as well as intimate portraits of everyday people in Arizona.
He won dozens of awards for his work, including having his image, “Foul Ball,” named Photo of the Year by the Arizona Associated Press Managing Editors in 2003 and being named Arizona Photojournalist of the Year by the Arizona Press Club in 2020.
“For him, it was more than just a job,” said Cheryl Evans, a former photographer at The Republic who worked with him for years. “It was his passion. I mean, he lived and breathed photojournalism.”
Here’s a look at his legacy through some of his most jaw-dropping images.
ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals have just finished their first set of voluntary offseason team activities, and there’s plenty to talk about.
We posted our sights and sounds video already (which you can check out here), though that didn’t quite cover everything we saw in Tempe.
Five biggest takeaways from being at the team’s facility for offseason team activities:
1. Notable Absences
All of Jacoby Brissett, Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, L.J. Collier, and Trey Benson were not present for the voluntary portion of offseason team activities.
Brissett continues to hope for a new contract while Sweat apparently is a healthy absence according to Arizona Sports. Collier had a personal day while Browning’s absence is unknown.
According to @Gambo987 just now on @BurnsAndGambo, Josh Sweat is not hurt despite being absent from OTAs.
L.J. Collier, meanwhile, had a personal day yesterday.
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 19, 2026
Starling Thomas and James Conner were spotted working off to the side while Tip Reiman (more on him later) and Walter Nolen III were also spotted on the sidelines. Garrett Williams posted on social media him getting recovery work in, too.
Benson suffered a season-ending injury last season, so he could be rehabbing elsewhere. Players who do not show in Tempe won’t be fined, though anybody who misses mandatory minicamp (June 8-10) will.
2. Jeremiyah Love Returning Kicks?
One of the biggest storylines was the emergence of No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love returning some kicks during the open portion of practice this week. Max Melton was also an interesting name back there as well.
This caused a firestorm of overreactions on Love and the Cardinals’ potential usage of him. Many saw this as Love having to work his way through special teams while others think this will add more unnecessary hits if he is indeed on return duties.
“You’re experimenting with everyone in terms of a lot of different spots,” Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur told 98.7’s Burns and Gambo. “… Jeremiyah is a running back. We know that. But you never know.”
I wouldn’t read too much into this — at least right now. WR Devin Duvernay was signed this offseason as a primary return man.
3. Rookies Take (Expected) Back Seat
Neither Love or third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck had dibs on the first taste of action with the starting unit while media were allowed to view practice.
That’s fine, and more importantly, very expected.
Even with Brissett out, it was the veteran Gardner Minshew repping with the first team offense. Tyler Allgeier was the main back for the Cardinals’ top offensive players.
Rookies, at this point in the offseason, are placed behind veterans purposefully. Even if this is the case in training camp, fans shouldn’t freak out if Allgeier is still over Love in the “pecking order” Arizona has.
This is simply the Cardinals working in their inexperienced players at a reasonable rate.
4. Sean Murphy-Bunting’s Position Change
Murphy-Bunting suffered a season-ending injury before even stepping into 2025 and was largely thought to be a cut candidate entering the offseason in a crowded cornerbacks room.
However, the Cardinals have apparently changed his position.
Murphy-Bunting, typically a boundary cornerback, was spotted working out with the safety group. Cornerback Will Johnson confirmed Murphy-Bunting was set to be a nickel corner, which serves Arizona as Williams is not expected to be ready for the start of the season due to injury.
When you’re trimming a roster down to 53, versatility matters.
5. Injury Updates
The Cardinals lost their top run-blocker in tight end Tip Reiman early last season with a right leg injury and is expected to be ready for training camp, according to LaFleur.
“Not going to dive too far into that, but [we] do expect him to be healthy, ready to roll when we get going in training camp. Another guy that I had a lot of respect for coming out of Illinois,” LaFleur told reporters.
“… Tip is all of the right stuff in terms of how he approaches it, and stuff like that. It’s unfortunate, obviously what happened a year ago, but [I believe he is a] big piece of where I think we can go.”
LaFleur was then asked about Benson, which drew a, “Kind of that same type of thing,” response from the Cardinals coach.
The Cardinals again will hit the practice field on May 21 where voluntary OTA’s continue.
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