Colorado sues GEO Group over tuberculosis case at ICE facility

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit against The GEO Group, the private company operating an immigration detention center in Aurora, for failing to comply with state public health orders. The legal action follows a confirmed case of tuberculosis within the facility, which is operated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to the lawsuit, The GEO Group has refused access and information requests from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and local health agencies since June. The company reportedly ignored a public health order from Adams County and missed a compliance deadline for a subsequent order issued by the state health department.

Attorney General Weiser stated that the company is endangering public health by violating Colorado law, which requires comprehensive investigations into infectious diseases to prevent community spread. The lawsuit seeks emergency injunctive relief to allow health officials to perform necessary disease investigation and control measures.