Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson today issued a strong statement opposing the potential establishment of a large federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Utah and committed to using every available tool to prevent it from opening in Salt Lake County.
Recent reports indicate that a west-side Salt Lake City warehouse has been identified as a potential site for a 7,500-bed ICE detention facility. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has already raised serious concerns, noting that the building and surrounding infrastructure are not equipped to safely support a facility of this scale.
“I have been working non-stop to understand how and why this proposal is moving forward in our community,” Mayor Wilson said. “At this point, there are still more questions than answers. I am trying to determine how far along this proposal is, who has been involved, and whether local or state officials were aware of the potential use of this property. I have also learned the building may be in the process of being sold, raising concerns that its future use may not have been fully disclosed.”
Mayor Wilson said she has heard from a growing, bipartisan group of business leaders, community members, and elected officials who are deeply alarmed by the proposal.
“Over the past 24 hours, I’ve spoken with dozens of Utahns who are concerned about the scale of this facility and the impact it would have on our neighborhoods, businesses, and public safety,” Wilson said. “An opposition coalition is forming quickly, and it reflects widespread unease about ICE’s aggressive and unchecked conduct nationwide, and the instability detention facilities often bring to surrounding communities.”
An ICE facility of this size would house more than three times the number of people currently held in the Salt Lake County Jail and would exceed the total inmate population of Utah’s entire state correctional system.
“This is a moment for Utahns to stand together, regardless of party, faith, or where we live,” Wilson said. “A detention center of this magnitude would bring disruption, strain local resources, and harm the economic and social fabric of our community.”
Mayor Wilson emphasized that her opposition to the facility is consistent with Utah’s history and values.
“Utah was founded by migrants fleeing persecution and seeking opportunity,” she said. “Our state’s story is rooted in resilience, faith, and the belief that people deserve dignity and a chance to build a better life. That history matters.”
While opposing the proposed detention facility, Mayor Wilson reaffirmed her belief that immigration policy must be addressed at the federal level.
“I support meaningful federal immigration reform — including a secure and orderly border, clear enforcement standards, and a practical path to citizenship,” Wilson said. “Those decisions belong in Congress, not through the siting of massive detention centers that destabilize local communities.”
Mayor Wilson committed to opposing the project through all available legal and policy avenues, including land-use authority, regulatory review, and coordination with local partners.
“Salt Lake County stands with families, with immigrants, and with our long-standing values of fairness and opportunity,” she said. “I will do everything in my power to ensure our community is defined by stability, compassion, and respect — not by detention and division.”
