OPINION — My husband and I are from Southern California, retired in Idaho, then in 2025 moved to Surprise.

It is always a risk moving into a developing city. Surprise is a large city, but it has a small town feel to it somehow. It has a lot to offer for young families all the way to assistive living homes for our oldest members of our community. We came here to be close to family.

I am very concerned that this (Department of Homeland Security warehouse) purchase already happened before letting us know. I guess the city of Surprise is putting money as their top priority rather then the people that call this home.

This detention center will have the worst of the worst from all over the world here in our community. It is appalling. I believe a maximum security prison has to be far away from communities.

I think it should go out in the desert, not here in Surprise or in anyone’s community.