Trump Admin Hit With Lawsuit in Utah Over Immigrant Detention Warehouse

Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County have filed a federal lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from converting a massive warehouse into an immigrant detention center.

The move comes as the facility-designed to hold up to 10,000 people-was purchased without environmental review or local consultation, according to the complaint. The case could determine whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can continue rolling out similar "mega centers" nationwide or must halt the initiative entirely.

The lawsuit targets DHS's March purchase of an 833,000‑square‑foot warehouse for $145.4 million, a price nearly 50 percent above its 2025 assessed value. The facility is part of a broader $38.3 billion detention expansion launched in the final weeks of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's tenure. DHS's inspector general is already investigating whether the warehouse acquisitions were wasteful, and the current Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, has paused the program.

Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County argue DHS violated federal law by bypassing required environmental reviews, ignoring local infrastructure limits, and shutting out state and local officials entirely. "This kind of facility has no place in Salt Lake City," Mayor Erin Mendenhall said, citing water shortages, strained utilities, and public‑health risks. County Mayor Jenny Wilson called the plan "a dire threat to the very essence of our community values."

A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek via email: "As with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals. As Secretary Mullin said in his confirmation hearing: ‘I will work with the community leaders and make sure that we are delivering for the American people what the President set out… We want to work with community leaders. We want to be good partners.'"

Why Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County Are Suing DHS

The lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, alleges DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act.

According to the complaint, DHS purchased the warehouse and began planning its conversion into a "mega center" without conducting environmental analysis or consulting local governments-steps federal law requires for major federal actions.

The complaint cites DHS's own policies, which state that large‑scale projects must undergo environmental review and consider local impacts. Yet, as the filing notes, "Defendants did not consult with the City or the County to address any of these concerns." The state was also left in the dark; Utah Governor Spencer Cox previously said no one in state leadership had been notified of the purchase.

Environmental and Infrastructure Concerns Raised in the Lawsuit

Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County argue the proposed detention center would dramatically strain local systems. Under previous ownership, the warehouse used about 5,600 gallons of water per day. The lawsuit says the detention center could require 1 to 2 million gallons daily, serving up to 13,000 people at full build‑out. Utah is currently in a prolonged drought, and the Great Salt Lake remains at historically low levels.

Sewage demands would also surge. The complaint estimates the facility could generate up to 4 million gallons of wastewater per day, roughly double the output of the nearby Utah State Prison. That would require expanded sewer lines, upgraded pump stations, and potentially new trunk lines.

Traffic, air quality, and public‑safety impacts are also cited. The lawsuit warns that increased vehicle traffic and emissions would worsen already poor air quality, while protests and public opposition would require additional law‑enforcement resources.

How the Utah Lawsuit Fits Into a National Pattern

The Utah case is one of several challenges filed across the country after DHS purchased 11 warehouses for more than $1 billion between January and March. Local officials in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Arizona, Michigan, and Georgia have raised similar concerns, arguing DHS bypassed environmental rules and local oversight.

Some challenges have already been addressed. In Maryland, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting construction at a similar warehouse. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration blocked two planned centers pending environmental compliance.

The Utah lawsuit argues that DHS is repeating the same pattern-purchasing large industrial sites, invoking questionable categorical exclusions under NEPA, and proceeding without public review.

What Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County Want the Court to Do

The lawsuit asks the court to:

• Vacate DHS's decision to purchase the warehouse for detention use
• Temporarily restrain and permanently enjoin DHS from converting the facility
• Block any construction, retrofitting, or contracting tied to the project
• Require DHS to comply with federal environmental and administrative law
• Award attorney's fees and costs

Salt Lake City Council Chair Alejandro Puy said the filing is necessary to protect the region's resources. "The impact of this facility poses far too great a threat to our essential water supply, critical infrastructure, and core societal values," he said.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 10:09 AM.