Utah may soon become home to one of the nation’s largest immigration detention centers, according to a CNN report citing federal documents and unnamed sources. The proposed facility would have capacity for up to 10,000 detainees and is part of a broader federal effort to expand immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
$10 Billion Project Underway
CNN reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is allocating roughly $10 billion to build six new detention centers across the United States. The construction contracts are reportedly being handled through the U.S. Navy, which is vetting eligible private contractors.
Although construction in some states could begin as soon as next month, CNN did not specify where the Utah facility would be located. DHS has not confirmed the project, and when contacted by The Salt Lake Tribune, officials did not provide comment.
ICE Expansion Plans
The new centers are part of an effort to double the detention capacity of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Currently, ICE has funding for about 41,000 detention beds nationwide. However, White House border czar Tom Homan has previously said he hopes to increase that number to more than 80,000 as detentions of undocumented immigrants rise.
At present, Utah lacks a permanent ICE detention center. Individuals detained in the state are processed at ICE’s West Valley City office and often transferred to facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada, or Aurora, Colorado.
Earlier this year, The New York Times reported that Hill Air Force Base had been discussed as a potential holding site for immigrants, though Air Force officials said they had not received any formal request.
Political Reaction and National Scope
So far, Utah’s congressional delegation, all Republicans, have not publicly commented on the reported plan. If confirmed, Utah’s detention facility would join new sites expected to be built in Louisiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Kansas — part of the administration’s larger immigration infrastructure expansion.
CNN’s reporting suggests the Utah center would be one of the largest of its kind in the country, potentially reshaping the region’s role in federal immigration enforcement.
As of now, the DHS and ICE have not publicly released details on location, construction timeline, or oversight mechanisms for the proposed project.
