MESA, AZ — Three Arizona congress members paid an ICE facility at Mesa Gateway Airport a surprise visit on Thursday night, and what they say they witnessed at the facility is “unacceptable.”
Democrats Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari, and Adelita Grijalva say they showed up at the facility unannounced around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
“What we saw inside this facility was shocking,” Stanton said. “People lying on the floor next to each other side by side by side on a concrete floor.”
Ansari said there were more people in each room than posted as the maximum capacity.
“Absolutely shameful that the United States government, funded by our taxpayer dollars, is allowing this to happen,” Ansari said. “Massive overcrowding. Rooms that have a capacity for 21 people, and it clearly says that on the top of each room, filled with 40 to 50 people, body to body.”
Ansari and Grijalva each talked about how detainees tried to speak to them through the walls about issues they were facing.
“These people deserve better, and we should do better,” said Grijalva.
“ICE is breaking any possible standard of human dignity,” said Ansari.
The elected officials each said they have written letters to DHS asking questions about ICE detainment center issues, and they say that none of them have received responses.
“What we saw was utterly horrific. People are being packed like animals into grossly overcrowded spaces,” said Rep. Grijalva. “The conditions are horrendous; no human being should be treated like this – not in America, not anywhere.”
“What is happening here is a humanitarian failure. Oversight is not optional – it is our responsibility. Secretary Mullin must act immediately to address the overcrowding, restore basic sanitation and nutrition, and provide full transparency about how this situation was allowed to escalate,” Grijalva added.
Our crews were back at the scene early Friday morning and saw what appeared to be detainees getting onto a plane before 5 a.m.
It’s unclear if this was in response to Thursday night’s visit from the congress members or routine transportation.
ABC15 has reached out to ICE for comment on the visit from the three Arizona congress members and what we saw happening on Friday morning.
Late in the day Friday, a DHS spokesperson sent us this statement:
“Last night, Reps. Yassamin Ansari, Adelita Grijalva and Greg Stanton arrived unannounced at the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center. Their claims this facility is overcrowded and horrific are FALSE. ICE operates under federal standards, oversight and accountability, and claims of chaotic or inhumane conditions are misinformation, not a reflection of actual practice.
When will these congressional members discuss the horrific crimes committed by illegal aliens against American citizens?”
Read more on ABC15.
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