Federal Judge Halts Colorado’s Oversight Law Targeting ICE Detention Facility

A federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump has temporarily blocked Colorado’s attempt to strengthen oversight of an immigration detention facility operated by a private contractor. Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico issued the preliminary injunction Thursday, determining that Colorado likely violated constitutional limits by singling out the GEO Group’s Aurora ICE Processing Center for enhanced regulation under state law.

Domenico ruled that the state imposed requirements specifically targeting the Aurora facility, which operates under federal contract as Colorado’s only ICE detention center, creating an unconstitutional burden on a federal contractor. The judge found that GEO demonstrated it was targeted by legislation that applied to no other similar facility in the state, violating equal protection principles under the supremacy clause.

Democratic Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1276 into law June 4, expanding state and local oversight of immigration detention centers. The blocked provisions required unannounced inspections at least quarterly with costs borne by GEO, and authorized civil penalties up to $50,000 for each refusal to permit inspections.

The court left other provisions intact, including requirements for reporting on chronic health conditions, staffing levels, and onsite medical professionals. Domenico declined to block those sections because Colorado stated they were not yet being enforced and would require future rulemaking with no immediate timeline.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser characterized the ruling as a narrow, temporary victory for GEO that preserves the state’s existing public health authority. The state filed suit against GEO on Wednesday seeking to enforce health orders related to a tuberculosis investigation at the Aurora facility, with officials confirming an active TB case there June 22.

The preliminary injunction expires October 15, when GEO’s federal contract to operate the Aurora site is scheduled to end. The state argues its disease investigation authority predates the blocked law and remains unaffected by Domenico’s decision.