Macy Lipkin

The agency confirmed that this is part of its detention expansion.

Local Democratic leaders oppose the center, and some communities around the country have successfully blocked the projects.

But in 2024, Republican Governor Spencer Cox said he would like the state to have one.

ICE says their sites undergo community impact studies to make sure there's no hardship on local infrastructure.

But Salt Lake City Mayor Aaron Mendenhall says a detention center would be, quote, wholly outside the scope of our available resources and zoning allowances.

For NPR News, I'm Macy Lipkin in Ogden, Utah.

ICE paid $145 million this week for a warehouse near Salt Lake City International Airport.

The agency confirmed that this is part of its detention expansion.

Local Democratic leaders oppose the center, and some communities around the country have successfully blocked the projects.

But in 2024, Republican Governor Spencer Cox said he would like the state to have one.

ICE says their sites undergo community impact studies to make sure there's no hardship on local infrastructure.

But Salt Lake City Mayor Aaron Mendenhall says a detention center would be, quote, wholly outside the scope of our available resources and zoning allowances.

For NPR News, I'm Macy Lipkin in Ogden, Utah.

The Department of the Treasury is the largest employer in the city.

The majority of its more than 7,000 employees work for the IRS.

That agency has furloughed almost half its workforce in the shutdown and sent layoff notices to about 1,500 more.

Dan Martinez is legislative coordinator for the local chapter of the Treasury Workers Union.

He's been at the IRS for 18 years.

He says uncertainty and doge cuts have made his colleagues more careful with their spending.

For NPR News, I'm Macy Lipkin in Ogden, Utah.