The opening of a new immigration detention center in the city of Surprise, Arizona, was temporarily suspended after the state reached a legal settlement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which requires the federal government to first conduct an environmental impact study.
The decision represents a setback for the Trump administration’s plans to expand immigration detention facilities as part of its strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement.
Detention Center in Arizona Halted
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has secured an agreement to halt plans to convert a warehouse in Surprise into an ICE detention center. https://t.co/RxNZcDOVCE
— KVOA News 4 Tucson (@KVOA) July 2, 2026
The office of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday that the agreement temporarily prevents any renovation of the facility and prohibits detainees from entering the complex until the environmental assessment required by federal law is completed.
The project involves converting a massive warehouse located in the city of Surprise into a facility capable of housing up to 1,500 immigrants.
According to official information, the federal government allocated approximately 70 million dollars to purchase the property and estimates that operating costs would exceed 180 million dollars per year.
From the outset, the construction of the center sparked strong opposition from residents, immigrant rights organizations, community leaders, and local authorities.
One of the main causes for concern is that the facilities are located near a high school and neighborhoods with a large Hispanic population.
What does the lawsuit say?
➡️Arizona Attorney General @AZAGMayes announced that construction of the immigration detention center—which was intended to operate in the city of Surprise—has been halted, following a legal agreement with ICE.https://t.co/UX4AR9C0T9
— Conecta Arizona (@ConectaArizona) July 1, 2026
The lawsuit filed by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in April argued that the federal government failed to follow the necessary procedures to assess how the facility’s operations could affect the environment and the community’s quality of life.
As a result of the agreement, both the Department of Homeland Security and U .S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) committed to refraining from demolitions, renovations, or structural modifications while the environmental study remains pending.
“This agreement represents a major victory for the Surprise community.
“Federal agencies must also comply with the law and conduct the appropriate environmental assessments before undertaking projects of this magnitude,” said Attorney Kris Mayes in a statement.
This case comes amid the federal government’s expansion of immigration infrastructure, which involves the acquisition and conversion of large warehouses and storage facilities in various states into detention centers for individuals subject to immigration proceedings.
Although the project has not been definitively canceled, its future will now depend on the results of the environmental study and the next legal steps taken by federal authorities.
Filed under: Arizona detention center halted