Any interest the federal government may have in expanding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention system to Glendale hasn’t yet reached the West Valley city itself.
The Washington Post reported Dec. 24 that ICE plans to detain immigrants in a series of large warehouses across the U.S., including in Glendale, which it named. The Post says it reviewed a draft solicitation document that shows ICE is asking contractors to add to the U.S. detention system to detain more than 80,000 immigrants.
According to the report, Glendale would house one of 23 renovated warehouses across the country to be used as either processing centers or detention centers. The report further indicates Glendale would be home to one of seven larger facilities to hold between 5,000 and 10,000 people.
As of Dec. 30, the city itself has not heard from the federal government.
“The city is aware of the Washington Post report of a possible ICE warehouse facility proposed for Glendale, Ariz., however the city has not received any information or notice from the federal government about the plan,” a city spokesperson shared in an emailed statement Tuesday.
As recently as Dec. 5, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Arizona and federal partners served 16 criminal federal search warrants targeting nine restaurants and seven alleged associated stash houses in Tucson.
ICE reports the operation led to the arrest of 46 illegal immigrants including those with previous arrests for sexual assault and illegal re-entry.
“These enforcement actions have unequivocally disrupted this criminal organization’s ability to exploit our lawful labor and system of commerce,” acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede stated in a Dec. 10 ICE press release. “This agency will not stand for it and those seeking to continue such practices are on notice — there will be more enforcement operations in Arizona.”
This past July Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in sending a letter to members of Congress. The letter urged Congress to pass legislation generally prohibiting federal immigration agents from wearing masks to conceal their identity and requiring them to show their identification and agency-identifying insignia.
“Officers across Arizona do their jobs safely in uniform, without masks daily. ICE agents should too,” Mayes shared in a July 15 press release. “Secret police tactics like this erode trust in law enforcement and allows criminals to dangerously impersonate officers – which is already happening.”
Located nine miles northwest of Phoenix, Glendale’s is Arizona’s fifth largest city and the largest city in the West Valley.
Steve Stockmar can be reached at sstockmar@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@inusua.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Steve Stockmar
News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment
YourValley.net
Meet Steve
Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.
Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.
Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.
Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.
Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.