‘The ICE mission continues,’ 13 Investigates asks ICE how bill to ban facilities would impact them

AURORA, Colo. (KRDO) -- For the first time in four years, 13 Investigates got an exclusive look inside the Immigration Detention Facility in Aurora, which houses undocumented immigrants from Colorado and across the country.

Part of the tour was allowing our team to see how the ICE facility in Aurora functions, including witnessing the state-of-the-art medical care the immigrants receive and many amenities including ping pong and TV inside the recreational areas of the detention center.

"I'm proud of this facility. We're proud of this facility as an agency because of what the agency offers here at this facility," Walker said. "The overall community support and the providers support that we receive here is just top of the line."

The ICE facility in Aurora can hold as many as 1,340 people, but right now they are at around 600 undocumented immigrants.

"Our capacity is fluid, and so when the administration or the agency requires detention, we remain available. We have no expectations or predictions of what could come in the future," Walker said.

The vast majority of those housed at the ICE facility are those who pose a public safety threat. Many undocumented immigrants were dressed in red or orange, which signified that they have some sort of nexus to criminal activity.

"Our immigration officers focus on the most egregious threats to public safety and national security. We allow our officers to get out into the field, into communities, and make an assessment of what we need to focus on today and limit our resource, our detention bed space, for only those with the most serious criminal history," Walker said.

This tour comes as several Democrat lawmakers have successfully passed a bill that would ban ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) facilities and prevent them from entering into agreements with local law enforcement.

Currently, there are only two facilities that can house undocumented immigrants in Colorado; the GEO facility in Aurora and the Teller County County Jail. The latter is because Sheriff Jason Mikesell entered into a 287 G agreement with ICE, allowing several of his deputies to act as de facto immigration officers in their jail.

"We have a mission execute," ICE Deputy Field Office Director, Kelei Walker said. "Whether it's in a custodial setting, such as a jail or another prison, we'll execute it in an at large environment one way or another, the ICE mission continues. It's a very important mission for the national security and public safety of all communities, and that's what we're here to do."

The bill has drawn the ire of Sheriff Mikesell who, in an exclusive interview with 13 Investigates, said the bill is short-sighted and doesn't look out for the best interest of Colorado citizens or even undocumented immigrants.

"They would then take that inmate and have to put them on a bus and drive them to whatever state has a bed space open," Mikesell said. "The family is not going to know where that person's going because they are just waiting for a bed in the federal system, and if they are eligible for release they are going to dump them."

However, one of the sponsors of the bill, Democrat Representative Lorena Garica, claims she's had conversations with law enforcement across the state who said they don't have an interest in executing federal law. In addition, Garcia said they don't have the resources to enforce federal immigration law.

"Communities could no longer enter into a contract where our local law enforcement would then be removed from conducting local law enforcement duties and then, in turn, be told they have to do federal immigration duties," Rep. Garcia said.

HB23-1100, the bill to ban ICE facilities, is now on the desk of Governor Jared Polis. In previous years, Polis has refused to sign pieces of legislation that would outlaw the 287 G agreement that Mikesell has with ICE. 13 Investigates reached out to Gov. Polis's office for insight on whether he will sign this bill into law or not. We are awaiting a response.

Garcia said the current ICE facility would be unaffected by this bill becoming law. If signed into law, it would take effect on January 1, 2024.