Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has made it clear: she strongly opposes any plan to build an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility in the city. During her recent State of the City address, she criticised federal immigration enforcement sharply, calling it harmful and divisive.
Mayor Mendenhall’s Firm Stand Against ICE Facility
Rumours recently spread that the federal government was considering building a large ICE detention centre on the city’s west side.
However, these talks lost momentum when the property owners of 1197 N. 6880 West publicly stated they would not lease or sell the land to the government. This decision put a stop—at least temporarily—to the idea of the facility.
Mayor Mendenhall used this opportunity to clarify that the city does not support the federal government’s approach to immigration enforcement. She described recent ICE operations across other U.S. states like Minnesota and Maine as “completely and utterly deplorable,” saying they spread fear and weaken trust in law enforcement.
What Salt Lake City Will and Won’t Support
Mendenhall made it very clear that:
- Salt Lake City Police will not take part in any ICE operations.
- The city will use every available resource to protect its residents, regardless of immigration status.
- Her opposition is not just about city zoning laws but about protecting community values and safety.
She firmly said:
“Such a facility has no place in this city, whether at that site or anywhere else.”
Support from Other Utah Leaders
Mayor Mendenhall’s position reflects a broader stance among many local Democratic leaders in Utah, who have also spoken out against building large-scale detention centres in the state. Many have urged Utah’s federal representatives to push back against such proposals.
Ongoing Tension Between Local and Federal Policy
This issue highlights the growing tension between cities and the federal government when it comes to immigration. Cities often don’t have legal power to stop federal actions, but they can resist by:
- Refusing to cooperate with federal agents
- Using public statements and policy to push back
- Supporting community protests and advocacy
Community Response and Next Steps
Community members in Salt Lake City have already taken action:
- Organising protests
- Demanding stronger protections for immigrants
- Calling for more transparency from federal and local officials
But what happens next depends on:
- Federal government decisions about enforcement and detention centres
- Whether local leaders can continue influencing those decisions
Right now, the proposed facility has been blocked—but the debate over immigration enforcement and local resistance is far from over.
