A former state prison that closed over a decade ago in Weld County will allegedly be converted into an immigration detention facility by the end of the year. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents released by the ACLU last month show that the federal government was seeking proposals from multiple entities for potential ICE detention facilities and proposals were received for at least six different facilities, including the former state prison in Hudson.
Colorado currently only has one ICE detention facility in Aurora, which houses a daily average of 1,142 detainees and has a bed capacity of 1,532 beds. The reconciliation bill, also known as the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ authorized an increased budget for immigration enforcement including $45 billion to increase bed capacity in detention centers and $30 billion to hire 10,000 more employees.
The Hudson facility has a bed capacity of 1,250 in a town with a population of 1,600 about 30 miles northeast of Denver. The Trump administration has prioritized immigration enforcement and deportation efforts and with the agency looking to hire tens of thousands to aid in this effort, there will be a need for more detention space.
The facility is owned by Highlands REIT, Inc and was previously operated by GEO Group, which is also responsible for operations at the ICE detention facility in Aurora. GEO Group is a private prison company that receives more than 40 percent of its income from ICE and has been accused of medical neglect, including a lawsuit for wrongful death of a detainee in the Aurora facility.
GEO Group lists 14 ICE processing centers on its website and describes them as “special-purpose, state-of-the-art residential centers.” The website states that “all ICE Processing Centers operated by GEO have a long-standing record providing high-quality, culturally responsive services in safe, secure, and humane environments that meet the needs of the individuals in the care and custody of federal immigration authorities.”
An NBC report published last month revealed that ICE has detained more than it currently has the capacity to house and that detainees are complaining of hunger from small portion sizes and spoiled food. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied all reports of food shortages in ICE facilities.
“All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment and have opportunity to communicate with their family members and lawyers,” McLaughlin told NBC News. “Meals are certified by dieticians. Ensuring the safety, security and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE.”
Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams said on Facebook that the opening of the Hudson detention facility is “great news for Weld County and Colorado.”
.jpg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)