Report of ‘secret’ immigration detention centers raises rights concerns

According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Detention and Removal website, the federal agency has only one center for detention in Colorado, a privately owned facility located in Aurora. The website doesn’t mention that the agency may also be holding people at unlisted sub-field offices around Colorado.

The Nation, which broke the story last week of such sub-field offices, called them “secret” and suggested that they are “black sites” into which detainees might effectively disappear. ICE disputes the terminology.

Private prisons earnings up along with complaints

As the federal stimulus dollars begin to trickle down to the states this week, Erin Rosa provides a very timely profile of national private prison matron, The GEO Group, which operates facilities in Colorado.

Surge in Colorado deportations points to national increase in enforcement actions

Recent data shows that Colorado and Wyoming saw a 7 percent increase in deportations of undocumented immigrants in 2007, but the information should come as no surprise because the federal government has been dramatically stepping up enforcement actions, including worksite raids and criminal prosecutions.

‘Super jail’ fiesta a prelude to Colorado’s new federal detention facility?

The for-profit prison firm the GEO Group celebrated the grand opening of its new, 1,500-bed federal detention center in Texas last week with a joyous bash featuring camouflage-clad guards and a mariachi band, providing a possible hint about a similar lockup that the corrections business is planning to open up in the Denver area by 2009.

Immigration Lockup Expansion Goes to City Council

Private prison firm the GEO Group will have to get approval from the Aurora City Council in order to expand its 400-bed immigration detention facility by an additional 1,100 beds.

…

Aurora Panel Approves Immigrant Detention Expansion

Aurora planning commissioners unanimously approved the expansion of a privately run immigrant detention facility on Wednesday, but opponents of the plan have vowed to appeal the decision to the City Council.

…

Aurora Panel Set To Decide on Immigrant Lockup Expansion

The Aurora Planning Commission is set to vote this evening on whether a private prison contractor can expand a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in the city.

…

Former Employee Sues Immigrant Lockup Contractor

A former corrections employee is suing prison contractor The GEO Group, operator of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Aurora.

…

Immigration Lockup Expansion Not A Government Move

A privately owned federal detention facility for immigrants is set to expand in Aurora, but it wasn’t the government’s idea to start construction on the $72-million-dollar project that would triple the amount of bed space for detainees.

Federal Immigration Lockup Expanding In Aurora

A private prison contractor is expected to start expanding an immigration detention center in the Denver area by the end of this year.