“The Salt Lake County Council Democratic Caucus strongly opposes the creation of a large federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Utah.
“Serious and valid concerns are being raised about the rumored plan to house 7,500 ICE detainees in a building that was not meant for human habitation, and may not meet local health, safety, and sanitation requirements. While we have no power to override decisions made by the federal government, detention on this scale and in this setting is inhumane and risks violating the civil liberties of those being detained.
“Furthermore, we call on federal officials, and our congressional delegation, to provide more transparency into a proposal that would have such profound effects on our community.
“We know that a massive detention center will likely cause protests in Salt Lake County. We support the public’s right to peacefully assemble and voice your heartfelt anger and disappointment in our federal government. As a caucus we do not condone violence or actions that would harm our community.
“There are humane ways to approach immigration in our country, and as a community we should expect those types of solutions. We are supportive of Congress implementing comprehensive immigration reform, but the possibility of detaining people in the proposed manner is inconsistent with our community values. We should seek solutions that are compassionate and respect human dignity over tactics that dehumanize individuals and cause harm.”
-Salt Lake County Councilmembers Jiro Johnson, Suzanne Harrison, Natalie Pinkney, Ross Romero
