Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to halt the conversion of a warehouse on the city's west side into a massive immigration detention facility. The legal challenge seeks to stop what local officials describe as an unlawful decision made without following proper federal law.
Lawsuit Targets Warehouse Conversion
The lawsuit, announced by the Mayor's Office on June 8, 2026, targets the plan to transform the local warehouse into a mega immigration detention facility. Local leaders are contesting the decision-making process used by federal authorities regarding the property located on Salt Lake City's west side.
This legal action follows months of escalating tension between municipal leaders and federal immigration authorities. The city's effort to block the conversion marks a significant escalation in the local government's opposition to the expansion of ICE operations within the metropolitan area.
Scale of Proposed Mega Center
The scale of the proposed facility was revealed during a period of direct communication between city leadership and federal officials. In a statement released on March 30, 2026, Mayor Erin Mendenhall detailed an introductory virtual meeting held the previous week with ICE officials.
During that 30-minute meeting, Mayor Mendenhall spoke with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Charles Wall and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Director Tim Kaiser. According to the Mayor's Office, these officials informed the Mayor that ICE intends for Salt Lake City to host one of its 'mega centers.'
City officials learned during those discussions that the proposed facility would have a massive capacity, designed to hold approximately 7,500 to 10,000 individuals.
Mayor Rejects Detention Center
Mayor Mendenhall's opposition to the facility began shortly after the Department of Homeland Security's purchase of the warehouse. In a statement released on March 13, 2026, the Mayor addressed the DHS purchase of the West Side property specifically for use as a detention center.
'Let me be clear. A detention center does not belong in our capital city—full stop,' Mendenhall stated in her March 13 announcement. The Mayor's office has maintained a consistent stance against the presence of such large-scale immigration enforcement infrastructure within the city limits.
History of ICE Confrontations
The current legal battle over the warehouse is the latest in a series of confrontations involving ICE activities within Salt Lake City. Tensions between local officials and federal agents were previously documented during an incident at the Salt Lake City International Airport.
On October 30, 2025, Mayor Mendenhall issued a statement regarding an event that occurred the night prior, on October 29, 2025. The Mayor reported being made aware of an incident where multiple plain-clothed ICE agents approached and forcibly detained a woman near the baggage claim area of the airport.
Mendenhall noted that her office reviewed various forms of evidence regarding the removal, including videos captured by the public, Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) body camera footage, and airport surveillance recordings.
Ongoing Legal Battle
As the litigation proceeds, Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County continue to seek a permanent halt to the warehouse's conversion. The lawsuit remains centered on the argument that federal authorities failed to adhere to necessary legal protocols during the planning and acquisition phases of the detention center project.
