SLC.gov

March 13, 2026

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall is releasing the following statement regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s recent purchase of a warehouse on the City’s west side for the purpose of using it as a detention facility.

“Let me be clear. A detention center does not belong in our capital city—full stop.

The mass detention of people inside a warehouse is inhumane and is contradictory to the function, values and desires of Salt Lakers, and I will use every tool at the City’s disposal to stop it.

I’ve directed our attorneys to look at possible legal interventions as we work with our federal and state partners.

But to put it plainly, the use of a warehouse facility for this purpose is also wholly outside the scope of our available resources and zoning allowances.

We’re conducting a thorough and swift evaluation of utility infrastructure, among many other aspects, as to why we cannot have a facility of this kind here. 

Utah’s capital city—settled 175 years ago by pioneers seeking safe refuge—is not the place, nor does it have the capacity, to host the state prison, a homelessness campus and a federal ICE detention center so closely congregated.”