News Summary
The Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center (AROCC) faces growing scrutiny over the treatment of detainees, with many held far beyond regulatory limits. Reports reveal that individuals have been kept for excessive durations, including one case of 42 days for a non-violent immigrant. The facility’s poor living conditions, lack of basic amenities, and allegations of abusive treatment during deportations further highlight the urgent need for reform in immigration detention practices. Advocacy groups and lawmakers are calling for investigations and greater oversight of AROCC.
Phoenix – Concerns are mounting regarding the treatment of immigrants at the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center (AROCC), a facility designed as a temporary holding site for individuals awaiting deportation. Opened in 2010 near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, AROCC can accommodate up to 157 detainees and is staffed by 79 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees. However, recent reports indicate that many detainees are held for extended periods, raising questions about the facility’s compliance with regulations intended to limit detainment times.
Between September 2023 and June 2025, an analysis revealed that over 9,000 individuals were processed at AROCC, with at least 95 detainees remaining at the facility for more than 48 hours. Alarmingly, the facility, which should ideally conduct detainment for no more than 12 hours, has seen detainees remain for far longer durations. One individual was recorded to have been held for an extensive 42 days despite not being classified as a serious felon, merely identified as an “immigrant without an immigrant visa.”
Further distressing findings include reports from June 2025, during which 77 detainees were kept for approximately four days during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Many of those detained at AROCC have been classified by ICE as non-violent, with the majority entering the U.S. without authorization or overstaying their visas.
AROCC operates as a central hub for ICE Air, the agency’s aerial deportation operation. Immigrants being transported by this service are often shackled, and there have been troubling accounts of abusive treatment during flights. Such distressing reports indicate physical violence against detainees, which have, tragically, resulted in injuries, deaths, and miscarriages.
The living conditions at AROCC have also come under scrutiny, as the facility lacks the basic amenities of beds and showers. A 2022 audit of the center pointed out the absence of educational and medical services for detainees, raising further concerns about the standard of care and support afforded to individuals held in temporary custody.
Despite the significant issues reported, ICE has not provided any responses regarding the operational status of AROCC or the durations detainees are held there. Similar temporary detention facilities across the country have faced lawsuits from various advocacy groups, challenging inadequate living conditions and calling for reform of national detention practices.
Oversight of AROCC’s operations has also been complicated by restrictions imposed during the Trump administration, which limit Congress’s ability to monitor the facility closely. Furthermore, the awarding of contracts for deportation flights to private companies raises potential conflicts of interest surrounding the care of detainees.
Grassroots organizations and various lawmakers are now vocally advocating for more thorough investigations and heightened oversight of immigrant detention practices at AROCC. The discourse surrounding AROCC has sparked a campaign among immigration advocates focused on promoting boycotts against operational practices at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport linked to deportation flights. This growing concern represents a significant shift in public perception and political action regarding how the U.S. handles immigration detention.
The situation at AROCC illustrates ongoing challenges within the immigration system, particularly concerning the treatment and conditions of detained individuals, highlighting the urgent need for reform and accountability in how the nation addresses immigration enforcement and detention practices.
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Additional Resources
- Arizona Mirror: The ICE Facility in Phoenix You Probably Didn’t Know Existed
- ABC15: ICE Detains Phoenix Woman with Leukemia
- Florida Phoenix: Second Immigrant Deportation Facility to Open in North Florida
- Fox 10 Phoenix: ICE Agents Take People into Custody Downtown
- AZ Central: ICE Detention at Roosevelt School
Author: STAFF HERE PHOENIX WRITER
PHOENIX STAFF WRITER The PHOENIX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhoenix.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Phoenix, Maricopa County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Cactus League Spring Training, and Arizona State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and Visit Phoenix, plus leading businesses in technology and healthcare that power the local economy such as Intel and Banner Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERETucson.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Arizona's dynamic landscape.
