The City of Surprise has taken a new step in Washington advocacy by hiring the lobbying firm Nexxus to advise and represent the city on budget and appropriations matters, according to a recent filing. The move comes as U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) have engaged the Department of Homeland Security over a commercial warehouse in Surprise that the department acquired and is reportedly converting into an ICE processing facility.
Who Nexxus is representing Surprise in Washington
The disclosure lists three Nexxus partners as the city’s new team: Ana Ma, Bob Holmes and Tracee Sutton. Each partner brings Capitol Hill experience to the engagement, the filing says. Ma previously worked for Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.-7). Holmes worked for Rep. John Hayworth (D-Ariz.-5). Sutton has committee experience with the Senate Budget Committee during the 112th Congress.
| Partner | Background |
|---|---|
| Ana Ma | Former staff for Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-7) |
| Bob Holmes | Former staff for Rep. John Hayworth (D-AZ-5) |
| Tracee Sutton | Experience with the Senate Budget Committee (112th Congress) |
Scope and disclosure of the engagement
The filing identifies the issue code for the engagement as Budget and Appropriations. It reports no dollar amount for the work. That means the public record so far shows the city has contracted Nexxus for lobbying on budget-related matters but does not disclose the fee or contract value in the filing made public.
The timing of the hire is notable because it coincides with increased federal attention on the property in Surprise. Sens. Kelly and Gallego have pressed DHS about the commercial warehouse that the department acquired and is reportedly converting into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility. The senators’ inquiries signal active federal oversight related to the property and may influence conversations between city officials and federal agencies.
- City strategy: Hiring a firm with Capitol Hill experience suggests Surprise is prioritizing federal advocacy on budget and appropriations issues.
- Federal oversight: Senatorial engagement over the DHS-acquired warehouse adds scrutiny to decisions affecting the city.
- Transparency: The filing lists an issue code but does not disclose compensation for Nexxus’ services.
Local implications
For Surprise residents, the combination of a federal acquisition of private property and the city's decision to retain experienced lobbyists raises questions about communication, oversight and local influence over federal actions that directly affect the community. A federal processing facility, if established, could have operational, fiscal and reputational consequences for the city, depending on how federal agencies and local officials coordinate on site operations, public safety, and services.
By engaging Nexxus, the city appears to be seeking representation with people who have direct Capitol Hill ties and budget committee experience. Those connections can be useful in navigating federal appropriations processes, seeking clarifications from agencies, or influencing legislation or funding decisions that affect Surprise.
City officials did not include budget figures in the lobbying disclosure. That omission leaves the public without detail on the scale of the contract or how the city plans to measure deliverables from the firm. Residents and watchdog groups often monitor such filings to assess municipal spending priorities and the degree of outside influence in federal advocacy.
Meanwhile, inquiries from Sens. Kelly and Gallego are part of routine congressional oversight when federal agencies acquire property or change the use of facilities. Those inquiries can prompt additional information from DHS about intended use, timelines, and coordination with local governments.
As this story develops, Surprise residents may expect follow-up reporting on any public statements from the city, details of the contract with Nexxus if later disclosed, and responses from DHS about the status and intended use of the warehouse property.
"Budget and Appropriations is listed as the issue code for the engagement."
