Colorado lawmakers and officials are seeking to force GEO Group to allow public health investigators into an immigration detention center in Aurora after a case of tuberculosis was reported and local authorities warned they have not been able to determine if other people were exposed.

The initiative, which could allow the state attorney general to impose fines of up to $50,000 for each denial of access, aims to resolve the confrontation between health authorities and the private company that operates the center under contract with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).

The case was reported in early June. According to authorities, one detained person tested positive for tuberculosis and would have had contact with 61 other people. However, the Adams County Health Department maintains that it does not have enough information to determine if there were new infections.

Miriam Ordóñez Rodríguez of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) called on Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to act immediately. “GEO Group needs to be accountable to us and comply with local and state laws,” he said.

Authorities denounce lack of information about possible infections

The Adams County Health Department assures that its investigators have not been able to enter the center to conduct a complete epidemiological investigation. Michael Ruddock, the county's senior public policy advisor, called the situation unusual and said officials have encountered “significant difficulties” due to the center's lack of compliance.

Kelly Weidenbach, executive director of the health department, said state law requires investigation of tuberculosis cases once they are reported. “When public health authorities are aware of a reported or suspected case of tuberculosis, investigation is not optional,” he stated.

According to the county timeline, GEO reported the case in early June. Subsequently, the authorities requested information and access to the center, but the company sent the communications to its lawyers. On June 25, the county issued a public health order. Although GEO provided partial information about people who may have been exposed, authorities considered the data was not enough to complete the investigation.

Lawmakers press as court dispute continues

The concern spread to the state government. Elizabeth Velasco, a Democratic legislator and sponsor of the measure that contemplates the fines, asked Attorney General Phil Weiser to consider civil sanctions against GEO. The company, meanwhile, is in a legal dispute with the state and questions Colorado's authority to access its facilities. A federal judge must rule on GEO's request to suspend the application of the new legislation.

Wendy Bamberg, Adams County's medical director, said the investigation remains necessary even if there are currently no active cases within the facility. “We need to be able to track exposed people,” he explained.

Rachel Herlihy, Colorado's chief epidemiologist, acknowledged that state officials remain concerned because they lack enough information to assess the level of risk. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper also backed action against GEO and accused ICE of trying to “cover up a tuberculosis outbreak” at the facility, a claim that reflects growing political tension around the case.

While the judicial process continues, health authorities maintain that they need access to the center to identify potentially exposed people, verify who was tested and know their results.

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