Nearly 1,000 demonstrators gather planned ICE facility in Surprise

Nearly 1,000 people demonstrated on the sidewalks in Surprise against ICE and its proposed installation in the city.

Northwest Valley Indivisible, a liberal grassroots group, had already planned an anti-ICE protest for January 31. The group had regularly protested on Saturdays since federal immigration agents killed Minnesota residents Renee Good, a mother of three, and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, over the past month, according to co-chair Brent Peak.

But in recent days, Saturday’s protest turned personal after The Arizona Republic reported that the Department of Homeland Security had acquired a 418,400-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, which ICE later confirmed would be a 1,500-bed processing facility to expand detention space.

“An ICE facility in Surprise would be a stain on our city,” said Carole Parnell, who had a photo of the warehouse near Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road crossed out on a poster reading “Keep ICE out of Surprise.”

Protesters of all ages lined the sidewalks at the intersection of Civic Center Drive and Bell Road, with lines stretching about a quarter-mile to the west and a third of a mile to the east. They held up various billboards and chanted while drivers constantly honked their horns in support. Some demonstrators played music, including that of Marvin Gaye. ‘What’s Going On” and Bruce Springsteen’s new “Streets of Minneapolis.”

One of the chants was: “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ICE has to go!”

Francisco Buendia, who grew up in Surprise and now lives in Glendale, attended the protest with his family, including his 4-year-old daughter, Evangeline. Wearing a Mexican flag on his front and an American flag on his back, Buendia said he was concerned that an ICE facility in Surprise could create conditions similar to those in Minnesota, noting that Arizona is a border state.

Buendia said his parents became U.S. citizens decades ago after immigrating from Mexico, but not everyone was lucky enough to obtain citizenship quickly. Immigrants from all countries, he said, make up the “backbone” of the United States, and he added that it is difficult for him to see pro-MAGA Mexicans.

Evangeline had her own poster of Disney’s Elsa from the movie “Frozen” that read: “This queen wants to take out ICE!” When asked why she and her family were at the protest, she replied, “To make the bad guys go away.”

“Maybe Elsa could freeze them,” she said.

The demonstration started around 9 a.m. Surprise police and city transportation personnel were on hand to provide security, help residents exercise their First Amendment rights and minimize traffic impacts, according to police spokesman Sgt. Rick Hernandez.

About an hour later, Northwest Valley Indivisible reported a preliminary count of 986 participants. Peak said no agitators or counter-protesters were reported, although at least two trucks drove by in a threatening manner. The Republic observed a driver roll down a window and make an obscene gesture towards the demonstrators.

Peak said the group was working with police to figure out the best way to protest at the warehouse.

The building is approximately four miles from Surprise City Hall. It is close to neighborhoods, grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and schools. What ICE plans is essentially beyond the control of officials, since the city said on Jan. 30 that federal projects are not subject to location regulations, such as zoning.

“If they care about our community, they will coordinate with our community,” Peak said.

Elena Santa Cruz covers the West Valley cities of Glendale, Surprise and Peoria. Contact her at elena.santacruz@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on @ecsantacruz3.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 1,000 Rally in Surprise to Oppose ICE and New Facilities.