Salt Lake City, Utah – Uproar Utah, a grassroots coalition operating under the Utah Refugee Justice League, announced today that it has formally notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of its intent to file a federal lawsuit challenging the planned development of a large-scale immigration detention facility in Salt Lake City.

The proposed legal action seeks to stop the conversion of a recently acquired industrial warehouse into a detention center reportedly capable of housing between 7,500 and 10,000 immigrants. Uproar Utah contends that federal officials moved forward with the project without conducting the environmental reviews, public disclosures, and administrative procedures required under federal law.

The anticipated lawsuit will name DHS, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, ICE, and ICE Acting Director David J. Venturella as defendants. The coalition alleges violations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and other federal requirements intended to ensure transparency, public participation, and environmental review before major federal actions are undertaken.

“This project represents one of the largest proposed immigration detention facilities in the nation,” said Brent Ward, attorney and spokesperson for Uproar Utah. “Federal agencies cannot bypass environmental safeguards, public accountability, and lawful procedures when pursuing a project of this magnitude.”

According to public reports, DHS purchased the Salt Lake City warehouse for approximately $145 million as part of a broader federal initiative to expand detention capacity nationwide. Coalition leaders argue that the project could have significant impacts on local infrastructure, public health systems, and environmental resources, including the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

Uproar Utah maintains that federal officials failed to adequately consult with state and local leaders before purchasing the property and have not provided sufficient information regarding operational plans, environmental impacts, or community consequences.

The coalition’s concerns include:

• Potential impacts on the Great Salt Lake and regional water resources.
• Increased strain on local healthcare, emergency response, and public infrastructure systems.
• Public health risks associated with large-scale detention operations.
• Family separation and due process concerns affecting detained individuals.
• Lack of public transparency and community engagement in the decision-making process.

“This is about more than a land-use dispute,” said attorney Jim McConkie. “It raises fundamental questions about government accountability, community impact, and the treatment of human beings within our immigration system.”

The legal action comes amid similar challenges to immigration detention projects in other states. Uproar Utah says the lawsuit aims to ensure federal agencies comply with established legal requirements before constructing or operating facilities of this scale.