Salt Lake City Leaders Push Back on ICE's Plan for Large Detention Facility

ICE plans to turn Salt Lake City into home of one of the largest immigration holding facilities in the U.S. with up to 10,000 detainees. The mayor is vowing to fight it

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a statement Monday saying that during a meeting she had with federal officials last week, she was told U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans for Salt Lake City to host one of its…

Salt Lake City leaders push back on ICE's plan for large detention facility

SALT LAKE CITY Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced Monday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning on creating a mega center at its recently purchased warehouse in Salt Lake City.About two weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that it purchased a $145 million warehouse to build a detention facility. The mayor and city council members have voiced strong opposition to the center in Utahs capital city. Last week, Men…

Mayor says ICE is planning ‘mega center’ with capacity for 10,000 at Salt Lake City warehouse

A planned ICE detention facility in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a statement Monday saying that during a meeting she had with federal officials last week, she was told U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans for Salt Lake City to host one of its “mega” detention centers, with capacity for about 7,500 to 10,000 people.  Mendenhall sai…

SLC mayor shares details from meeting with ICE, including potential warehouse capacity

Mayor Erin Mendenhall said she met with ICE officials last week.

ICE mega detention center in far East El Paso County faces water infrastructure limits

The planned migrant detention center that could hold thousands just off Interstate 10 in far East El Paso County faces a key constraint: a water system that local officials say isn’t prepared to serve the facility on the federal government’s timeline. The Department of Homeland Security in January purchased three warehouse buildings on a 48-acre property within the Socorro city limits for $122 million with plans to convert them into a mass deten…

Mayor Mendenhall releases statement following meeting with ICE officials

March 30, 2026 “I spoke with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Charles Wall and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Director Tim Kaiser during a 30-minute virtual, introductory meeting last week.  I was told ICE plans for Salt Lake City to host one of its ‘mega centers,’ with capacity for approximately 7,500 to 10,000 individuals. It would represent a hub in the ‘hub and spoke’ model. They indicated they are waiting for a due dil…