Department of Homeland Security’s recent purchase of a 400,000-square-foot warehouse at Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road for use by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement drew an overflow crowd to a marathon 5.5-hour Surprise City Council meeting Feb. 3, Jason Stone reports. While more than 100 speakers implored the council to do anything it can to stop the facility, Mayor Kevin Sartor reminded the crowd that the city — which wasn’t given advance notice of the purchase and doesn’t have details on its intended use — doesn’t have jurisdiction over the site because federal projects supersede city zoning laws. Here’s a selection of what readers had to say about the issue:
From NextDoor
- “Support our ICE and LEO 1,000%! You’re illegal if you crossed the border without permission! Self-deportation. Signed: A legal immigrant!” — Helen T.
- “Protesters are the people who do not step on others to elevate themselves. Those that support tyranny want all of us in the gutter.” — Norma Verue
- “Illegals are criminals and need to be deported ASAP!” — George Bochis
- “No detention center is illegal on stolen land.” — Nick Stokes
- “Think of the revenue the Spring Training brings. The in-house teams training year-round. The hotels and restaurants will suffer. Plus, we know who does the work in our area. Hard workers.” — Sherry Manion
- “If people stay away from it and let them do their job, you won’t know it’s there.” — Richard D.
- “I am the granddaughter of a legal immigrant, so I know the system does in fact work. If you enter a country illegally, they have the authorization to deport you. Same concept of if you speed, you get it ticket. Consequences have actions.” — Brianna T.” — Brianna T.
- “I’m always amazed when people in border states have issues with border controls.” — Dan Mercado
- “The government does what they want. At least the illegals will be in a new/clean facility.” — Tess Krajci
- “Looks like Sun City had a field trip to Surprise. What happens in Minnesota stays in Minnesota. Surprise is not radical, just people with differences that we can talk about and still be friends.” — Vincent Montelongo
- “Bunch of boomers that don’t realize the ’60s are over.” — Anna S.
- “Love the city of Surprise, such a wonderful place to live. We do not want or need ICE.” — Mary Ann Howell
- “So, tell me which one of y’all’s ancestors ‘did it right?’” — Jason Bentley
- “Perryville prison has been in Goodyear for years and nobody protested.” — Rob Ervin
- “I side with the feds, who have removed thousands of criminals in Minnesota to include murders, rapists, child abductors, thieves. I want a safe community to live in!” — Jordan D.
- “Waste of time people, like it or not federal agents will be conducting their work besides agitators outside the building. Get busy with your life and get to work.” — Raul Avila
- “If you protest be smart. Realize local and state have no say regarding this and you’re wasting time. This is a federal issue.” — Freda Sowles
