# A Surprise Mega Detention Facility in Surprise, AZ

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-raid-7569219/a-surprise-mega-detention-facility-in-surprise-az
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-raid-7569219/a-surprise-mega-detention-facility-in-surprise-az.md
Podcast: [The Raid](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-raid-7569219)
Published: 2026-06-26T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.pitaya.fm/
Audio file: https://stitcher.simplecastaudio.com/0b4eeace-be24-4a6a-aa05-8fb4211e27d3/episodes/e20a08c9-bbd4-4293-bd34-58c4f3ccabaf/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=0b4eeace-be24-4a6a-aa05-8fb4211e27d3&awEpisodeId=e20a08c9-bbd4-4293-bd34-58c4f3ccabaf&feed=9qpQUasG
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-raid-7569219/episodes/a-surprise-mega-detention-facility-in-surprise-az
Duration seconds: 831

## Resource

The U.S. government wired $70 million to purchase a massive warehouse to house detained immigrants in Surprise, Arizona — without telling the mayor, the city council, or a single one of the 80,000 people who lived there. No announcement. No environmental review. No community input. Just a done deal. In this episode of The Raid, investigative journalist John Carlos Frey unpacks how the secret purchase unfolded, who pushed back — and what happened when residents realized their own city council wasn't going to fight for them. This is the story of Surprise, Arizona. And it could be the story of your town next. https://theraidpodcast.org/ https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/ice-buys-warehouses-immigration-detention/ https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/dhs-reveals-surprise-warehouse-turned-ice-detention-facility-part-38b-plan https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/041826_surprise_ice_warehouse/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates"). The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.

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## Transcript

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