Ogden Residents Protest ICE Field Office, Raise Code Compliance Concerns

Community members voice worries over immigration enforcement facility in industrial area.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:21am

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Residents of Ogden, Utah gathered outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office location to protest the facility and raise concerns about potential city code violations. The protesters, led by local resident David Belnap, held signs and argued that the building's presence in an industrial area goes against local zoning rules, even though Ogden City has stated the facility was approved for a conditional use permit in 2000.

Why it matters

The protest highlights ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and the role of federal agencies like ICE operating within local communities. Residents are concerned about the impact of the ICE facility on their neighborhood and want to ensure the building complies with city codes and ordinances.

The details

The ICE field office is located at 2487 South and 1620 West in an industrial area of Ogden. According to the conditional use permit, the facility can only bring people there from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cannot hold them overnight. However, protesters like David Belnap believe the building is still violating city code. Ogden City has stated they have not found any violations since detainees are taken to local jails overnight, and that local zoning laws cannot interfere with federal functions.

  • The ICE field office location was approved for a conditional use permit in 2000.
  • The community protest took place on Friday afternoon, March 21, 2026.

The players

David Belnap

A resident of West Haven, Utah who participated in the protest and voiced concerns about the ICE facility and its impact on the local community.

Ogden City

The local government authority that approved the conditional use permit for the ICE field office location in 2000 and has stated that they have not found any code violations related to the facility.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency that operates the field office location in Ogden, which is the focus of the community protest.

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What they’re saying

“These people, a lot of these people are the backbone of this country. I worked in construction for 20 years and today, a lot of construction wouldn't get done without them.”

— David Belnap, West Haven Resident

“Six of my grandchildren are of color; this is not the world I thought I was making for them. So, I just feel like something has to [be] done before I'm gone. I need to [contribute somehow] so my grandkids don't look at me and say, 'why didn't you do anything?'”

— David Belnap, West Haven Resident

What’s next

Ogden City officials have stated they will continue to monitor the ICE field office location to ensure it complies with the terms of the conditional use permit, including the restriction on overnight detentions. Community members have vowed to keep up the pressure and protests until they are satisfied the facility is operating within local zoning laws.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement efforts and local communities who are concerned about the impact on their neighborhoods. While federal agencies like ICE have authority to operate, local residents are asserting their right to ensure these facilities comply with city codes and ordinances, underscoring the complex dynamics between different levels of government.