The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) no longer intends to convert a warehouse located at 6020 West 300 South into an ICE detention center for immigrants, according to a report published August 20. Instead, the administration plans to classify the property as surplus to be transferred to the General Services Administration (GSA) for subsequent sale.
The information was disclosed following a joint motion filed by Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, and the DHS in a lawsuit challenging the plan to house the federal facility. The document states that the parties have deliberated and agree that the case should be suspended to save judicial resources. No timeline was provided in the text regarding when new plans would be implemented.
The 833,000-square-foot warehouse was acquired by federal authorities in March and is situated on nearly 25 acres near the west side of Salt Lake City International Airport. The purchase was estimated at approximately $145 million based on previous calculations.
The shift in plans follows previous reports suggesting federal immigration officials might use county jail spaces for detainees instead of constructing a new center in the warehouse. This change follows a lawsuit filed in June by Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County officials against the federal government.
State Senator Luz Escamilla criticized the lack of transparency regarding the transaction and called for the community to organize to demand federal answers. Additionally, the Utah Democratic Party stated the federal plan lacked transparency and consideration for communities, according to ABC4.
The warehouse acquisition previously faced opposition from residents and local authorities who argued the construction could impact municipal and public infrastructure and services.
