Congressional Members Conduct Surprise Inspection at Overcrowded ICE Facility in Arizona
Three Democratic members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari, and Adelita Grijalva, conducted an unannounced inspection of the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center (AROCC) at Mesa-Gateway Airport. The facility, which is managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was found to be significantly overcrowded, with detainees packed into concrete rooms without beds or blankets. The lawmakers reported seeing more than 40 people in rooms designed for 21 to 24 individuals, estimating a total of around 250 detainees. The visit was prompted by reports of the facility operating far over its 157-person capacity for most of the year. The inspection revealed that detainees were being held for extended periods, with some staying as long as 18 days, despite the facility's intended use as a short-term holding area. 
