Utah governor backs ICE mega-detention center amid local protests
Mar 19, 2026 · Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox endorsed a new ICE detention center purchased for $145.4 million in Salt Lake City, which could hold up to 7,500 detainees. Cox expressed concerns that state leaders and local officials were not notified of the facility's purchase. The warehouse purchase is part of a broader federal effort to establish regional detention "mega-facilities" across the country.
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