Detainee Numbers at Mesa ICE Facility Decrease Before Scheduled Congressional Visit

By Jerod Macdonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror

*Published April 9, 2026*


U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari, both Democrats from Arizona, visited an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facility in Mesa earlier this year. The facility, known as the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center (AROCC), is designed to temporarily house up to 157 people. During their visit, the facility was operating below that capacity, according to ICE records.

Two weeks before the visit, ICE records showed 513 people housed there on a single day. Several weeks earlier, the daily population reached nearly 800 people. From January 15 to February 20, 2026—the period encompassing the visit—the facility operated over its 157-person capacity on 33 of 37 days, according to an analysis of ICE data by the Arizona Mirror. On some days, the population exceeded the authorized capacity by several times.

Members of Congress are permitted to inspect ICE facilities, but ICE policy requires seven days' advance notice for such visits. In the seven days following the notice from Ansari and Stanton, detainee numbers at AROCC declined to some of the lowest levels recorded that year. After the inspection, numbers increased again.

The 25,000-square-foot AROCC facility at Mesa-Gateway Airport opened in 2010 and can accommodate up to 157 detainees and 79 ICE employees, per an ICE press release at the time. It functions as one of several temporary holding sites nationwide, intended for short-term detention before transfer to longer-term facilities or removal from the United States.

An analysis by the Arizona Mirror of ICE detention records, obtained by the Deportation Data Project—a University of California, Berkeley-led initiative—through a Freedom of Information Act request, indicated that some detainees remained longer than the 12 hours ICE states the facility is designed for. In prior years, the facility generally stayed below its 157-person capacity. More recent data showed surges above that limit, with longer stays reported.

ICE provided a statement to the Arizona Mirror disputing the Deportation Data Project's data and analysis. "The Deportation Data Project relies on information releases that have not been reviewed, audited or given context," ICE stated. "Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor ICE have verified the accuracy, methodology or analysis of the project and its results. The bottom line is that the Deportation Data Project is not accurate."

The Deportation Data Project responded in a statement, noting that the datasets came directly from ICE. "ICE sent us these datasets in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. We posted the original data," the project stated. "These are ICE’s own records of who is arrested, detained, and deported."

Mesa-Gateway Airport, home to AROCC, serves as a hub for ICE's aerial deportation operations, including "ICE Air." These operations involve chartered aircraft, often subcontracted, for transporting detainees. AROCC has coordinated flights sending immigrants to countries in Africa, including cases where individuals were not nationals of those destinations. In one recent instance, the facility was linked to planned deportations of two Iranian men who identified as gay, which drew national attention after intervention prevented their removal.

Data from ICE Flight Monitor, a tracking initiative by the advocacy group Human Rights First, shows that flights from AROCC in 2026 have primarily involved domestic transfers. These "shuffle flights" move detainees between immigration detention centers across the U.S. via chartered aircraft.


Temporary ICE holding facilities in locations such as New York, Los Angeles, and Baltimore have faced lawsuits alleging insufficient beds and food. Past audits of AROCC noted the absence of showers, beds, and on-site medical care. Such services are provided through ICE’s Florence Service Processing Center, located about an hour's drive away.

ICE maintains that AROCC is used solely for short-term detention, typically under 12 hours, and that it complies with all applicable standards. The agency describes AROCC as a "transit and staging hub, similar to a layover at a commercial airport." ICE explained potential factors affecting detainee numbers: "Flight delays, cancellations or mechanical issues may occur, and ICE personnel adjust operations to maintain continuity of care and security. Facility population levels fluctuate based on flight schedules and operational needs. During peak arrivals and departures, on-site numbers may temporarily increase, then decrease as flights depart and processing concludes. This is a normal part of operations."

ICE further attributed recent trends to operational increases: "We have increased removal flights to address case backlogs, resulting in higher volumes at AROCC. Population counts may temporarily reflect individuals arriving or departing by ground or air, which can inflate numbers during high-volume movements." The agency stated it notifies local authorities of emergencies or significant developments.

The Mesa Fire and Medical Department confirmed it was reviewing a request from the Arizona Mirror regarding notifications from ICE about overcapacity periods but had not responded by publication time.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council—an immigration policy organization—described overcrowding at ICE field offices nationwide as a pattern. "We have seen serious problems with overcrowding at ICE field offices around the country," he told the Arizona Mirror. "It really heralded what we would see in the months to follow."

Lawsuits have prompted temporary closures at some facilities, such as one in Baltimore, where detainees were transferred—including to Arizona—ahead of a congressional oversight visit. Courts have received numerous requests from detainees for relief.

At AROCC, Deportation Data Project records showed an average stay of about 36 hours in 2026, compared to 12 hours during the same period in 2025. The average daily population in 2026 was approximately 274 detainees, versus 21 in 2025. One record indicated a single individual stayed 18 days, during a peak daily population of 777.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari attributed these trends to increased arrests exceeding capacity, linking it to broader enforcement policies under President Donald Trump. "When you keep growing into that, it becomes very clear that you have people staying longer than they should be or places are over capacity. That is just simple math that anyone can figure out," she told the Arizona Mirror. Ansari noted that ICE officials informed her during the February visit that nationwide detainee numbers exceeded available beds.

Reichlin-Melnick described the situation as a logistical challenge tied to expanded enforcement efforts. "I think this is a side-effect of mass deportations," he said. "The agency is running into very real logistical bottlenecks as they are trying to fulfill arrest and deportation quotas set by the administration."

He also referenced reports of detainee transfers before oversight visits at other sites. Earlier this year, Maryland lawmakers reported finding an ICE facility empty during an unannounced attempt; that site had faced allegations of a legionella outbreak and a lawsuit over conditions. Similar reports emerged from Minnesota and California, where lawmakers found facilities empty during scheduled oversight visits.


Ansari said she did not observe clear evidence of mass detainee movements during her visit but noted the advance notice requirement. "I can’t say that it was obvious to me that there was mass movement of people, but I’m not surprised at all that they make things look much nicer when they know members of Congress are coming," she said. ICE requires lawmakers to submit forms and provide prior notice.

Arizona has prior legal precedents on detention conditions. In *Doe v. Wolf* (2021), groups including the American Immigration Council sued U.S. Customs and Border Protection over conditions at the Tucson Border Patrol Station. Detainees reported overcrowding, lack of beds, inadequate food and water, insufficient medical care, and cold temperatures. The court ordered CBP not to hold detainees beyond 48 hours without providing beds with blankets, showers, food, and other basics, ruling otherwise unconstitutional.

Reichlin-Melnick noted similarities in reported conditions, though contexts differ—border family detentions versus interior arrests. He mentioned that during that litigation, cleaning crews arrived 24 hours before court inspections. "I think it is possible it is a coincidence, it is possible there is more going on," he said. He advocated for unannounced inspections, which the Trump administration opposed.

In a statement to the Arizona Mirror, ICE confirmed that congressional visits are scheduled in coordination with agency operations, occurring during periods aligned with flight schedules and lower transient populations as part of standard procedures. The agency emphasized compliance with notice policies and operational necessities.

The story, first reported by the Arizona Mirror, has been republished by outlets including Raw Story. No coverage was found in right-leaning or mainstream conservative media outlets as of publication, though ICE's explanations frame the detainee fluctuations as routine amid increased removal flights to manage backlogs.

ICE records and statements highlight that AROCC's role as a transit hub inherently leads to variable populations, particularly with recent upticks in deportation operations. The seven-day notice policy, as required, allows scheduling around peak times. Data disputes between ICE and the Deportation Data Project underscore ongoing questions about record interpretation, with both sides attributing accuracy to their positions.

Broader context includes national trends in ICE enforcement. Increased arrests and removals have strained temporary facilities, per advocates, while ICE cites backlogs and flight logistics. Lawsuits and oversight visits continue at multiple sites, with varying outcomes.

For instance, the Baltimore facility closure followed legal action, with transfers noted before visits. Similar patterns were alleged in other states, though details vary. Historical cases like *Doe v. Wolf* set precedents for minimum standards, influencing current debates.

Ansari and Stanton’s visit occurred amid these dynamics, with numbers dropping post-notice per records. ICE maintains all actions align with policy and safety protocols, notifying locals as needed.

The Mesa Fire Department's review of notification records remains pending, potentially shedding light on emergency responses during peaks.

Reichlin-Melnick's observations align with advocacy reports, while ICE's data critique invites independent verification. Average stays and populations shifted notably from 2025 to 2026, coinciding with policy expansions.

This facility's operations reflect tensions in immigration enforcement: capacity limits versus rising caseloads, short-term design versus extended holds in data, and scheduled oversight amid operational fluxes.

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