FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2026
Contact: media@northwestvalleyindivisible.org
West Virginia Chemical Incident Underscores Unanswered Questions About ICE Warehouse Site in Surprise
Community still waiting for information from city, county, state, DHS, GardaWorld, and Rinchem
SURPRISE, AZ — Yesterday’s deadly chemical release at a West Virginia manufacturing facility — which killed two workers and sent more than 30 people to seek medical care — is a stark reminder that industrial chemical incidents happen. It is not a prediction. It is not a certainty. But it is a reminder.
Across the street from the proposed ICE warehouse at 13290 W. Sweetwater Ave. in Surprise sits Rinchem, a chemical storage facility operating above Risk Management Plan thresholds. Northwest Valley Indivisible is not claiming that the chemical facility is unsafe. We are pointing out that no information has been made available from the City of Surprise, Maricopa County, the State of Arizona, the Department of Homeland Security, GardaWorld, or Rinchem about what the emergency response plan would be in the event of an incident at that facility — particularly given the presence of a population of potentially thousands of detainees who cannot self-evacuate.
These are not rhetorical questions. They are the questions any responsible jurisdiction should be able to answer before a facility of this scale becomes operational. But security fencing is now up at the site, and work appears to be proceeding. Meanwhile, the community has no information about what is happening inside.
We will be raising these questions at the “Communities Not Cages” rally this Saturday, April 25 at 5:30 PM at the site itself — part of a national day of action. Details and RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/disappearedinamerica/event/941687/
Northwest Valley Indivisible is a grassroots organizing group advocating for justice, equality, and democracy in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.###