Feds plan 'mega center' that could house 10,000 immigrant detainees, Salt Lake mayor says

Key Points:

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to build a large immigrant detention center in Salt Lake City, with capacity for 7,500 to 10,000 detainees, as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration under the Trump administration.
• Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall opposes the project, citing concerns about inadequate water, sewer, and road infrastructure, potential impacts on public safety, air quality, and the nearby Great Salt Lake.
• The detention center would be located on a 24.9-acre industrial site near the airport, utilizing an unused 833,000-square-foot warehouse, with ICE aiming to start construction soon and activate the facility by November 2026.
• ICE's broader plan includes eight large-scale detention centers and 16 processing sites nationwide to expand detention capacity by 92,600 beds, with a focus on operational efficiency and humane treatment, though critics argue the centers deny due process and lack transparency.
• Local protests and new water restrictions in Salt Lake City could challenge ICE’s development plans, while state officials like Governor Spencer Cox support the detention center as part of immigration enforcement efforts.