Colorado suffers defeat in lawsuit against private ICE facility over local oversight

AURORA, Colo. (KRDO) - A federal judge granted a partial injunction in favor of the private ICE facility, GEO Group, blocking Colorado from conducting unannounced inspections.

The company operates the Aurora facility and others across the country.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Domenico, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled in favor of the company. He said it was subject to state law, but only to those in effect before GEO Group signed its contract with the federal government.

Colorado health officials have tried to gain access to the GEO Group facility in Aurora since a reported tuberculosis case last June. According to the state, GEO Group has denied all requests for inspection and documentation.

Democratic lawmakers introduced a law that would require the GEO Group to comply with unannounced inspections and provide health documentation. GEO Group ignored the directives and sued the state of Colorado, arguing that the law was unconstitutional.

The injunction lasts until Oct. 15, after GEO Group's contract with the federal government expires.

Colorado Attorney General and Democratic nominee for Colorado governor, Phil Weiser, filed a separate lawsuit on Wednesday to try to force GEO Group to comply with a public health investigation into a reported case of tuberculosis.

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