The construction of a new immigration detention center in Surprise, Arizona, has raised alarm bells among local authorities, activists and public safety specialists. The reason is not only the expansion of immigration infrastructure promoted by Donald Trump's administration, but also the chosen location: right in front of a huge warehouse of dangerous chemicals whose own risk assessment warns of possible toxic leaks that could affect more than 73,000 people.

According to an investigation by Project Salt Box, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to use an adapted warehouse to house between 1,000 and 2,000 detained immigrants on West Sweetwater Avenue in the city of Surprise. Across the street there is a Rinchem company facility dedicated to the storage of hazardous materials such as chlorine, ammonia, fluorine and hydrogen chloride.

The main concern is that people held at the center would not be able to evacuate themselves in the event of a chemical emergency.

Firefighters denounce lack of coordination

The head of the Surprise Fire and Medical Services Department, Steven Faraclas, revealed that neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), nor ICE, nor the contractor company GardaWorld Federal Services have contacted his corporation to coordinate emergency protocols related to the future center.

“At the moment, no,” Faraclas responded when asked if any of these entities had requested support to plan an eventual evacuation.

The statement has raised concerns because the department itself is the authority responsible for responding to chemical accidents in the area.

According to records reviewed by the aforementioned media, Rinchem presented to federal regulators a leak scenario considered realistic in which 20 thousand pounds of hydrogen chloride could be released in just ten minutes. Using risk models from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company estimated that a toxic cloud could extend up to 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) around the plant.

Within that impact zone are schools, neighborhoods, businesses and the future detention center.

They question environmental evaluation of the project

The doubts have also reached the legal field. The community organization Northwest Valley Indivisible asked local authorities to demand explanations about evacuation protocols, chemical detection systems and containment measures before the facilities become operational.

“Did anyone from DHS or ICE check one of the largest warehouses of dangerous chemicals in the valley before spending $70 million to lock people up there?” asked Lynne Gehling, a member of the group.

The concern coincides with a lawsuit filed by Arizona's attorney general, who maintains that the building was designed for industrial use and not to house a captive population in front of a hazardous materials facility.

Documents reviewed by the same media indicate that ICE did carry out environmental evaluations related to flood risks and other factors, but did not make reference to the Rinchem chemical deposit or possible evacuation procedures in the event of an accident.

Meanwhile, the project remains mired in litigation that is part of growing opposition to the federal government's nationwide expansion of immigration detention centers.

Although DHS maintains that it has met legal and environmental requirements, the main question remains unanswered: What would happen to hundreds or even thousands of people detained if a toxic cloud forced the area to be evacuated within minutes?

For now, local authorities acknowledge that this scenario has not yet been formally discussed.

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