Overflowing toilets, no medical care: Democrats call Mesa ICE facility a ‘public health issue’

Members of Congress, including Reps. Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari, found overcrowded conditions and overflowing toilets at the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center (AROCC) in Mesa during an unannounced visit. The facility, designed for 157 detainees, has held up to 777 people, with average stays increasing from 12 hours in 2025 to 36 hours in 2026. Detainees reported inadequate medical care and incidents like pepper spray use and a seizure.