Residents of Surprise, Arizona have been showing up. Their city council has not.

The federal government purchased a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise for $70 million and plans to convert it into an ICE detention center capable of holding 1,500 people. The facility would sit in an industrial area directly across from a Rinchem plant that stores thousands of gallons of hazardous chemicals. Residents have packed city council meetings to oppose it. The Arizona Attorney General has sued DHS to block it. And the city council — rather than taking a stand — is going on a two-month summer break.

Community organizers are now so frustrated that they have filed a petition to disincorporate the city of Surprise entirely — stripping it of independent control and returning its assets to Maricopa County.

Organizer Jeremy Helfgot put it plainly: "If the city's elected and professional leadership will not stand up, will not take a stand to even meet with their constituents to discuss critical issues of safety and security — then maybe this city doesn't deserve to have its own independent control."

Surprise resident Brittney Bishop has lived in the city since she was five. She supports disincorporation because the city council has been cutting public comment time at meetings — limiting speakers to 30 minutes total. "That's about 10 people," she said. "That's not representing Surprise."

Residents deserve leaders who show up for them. Not leaders who go on vacation while their community fights back alone.

Sign this petition to stand with Surprise residents and demand the city council take immediate action to oppose the planned ICE detention center before it is too late.