Earlier this year, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the U.S. government under the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that the Trump administration plans to open more ICE detention centers in Colorado. Right now, the state only has one ICE detention facility in Aurora.
The potential expansion has raised concerns among immigrant rights advocates and community members, who protested with the ACLU on Sept. 13 at one of the prospective sites.
President Trump has pledged to carry out the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” targeting around 12 million undocumented immigrants, regardless of family ties or criminal records. Advocates say the facility development plans in Colorado reflect a broader move in federal immigration strategy.
CoreCivic is a for-profit company operating detention centers under contract with ICE. CoreCivic is currently the largest private owner of prisons, jails and detention centers in the U.S., and has contracts with both federal and state governments.
In a statement provided to the Clarion, Ryan Gustin, CoreCivic Senior Director of Public Affairs, said the company partners with several government agencies to understand the needs of both federal authorities and detainees.
“CoreCivic plays a limited but important role in America’s immigration system…our responsibility is to care for each person respectfully and humanely while they receive the legal due process they are entitled to,” Gustin said.
While CoreCivic operates the centers, they do not directly enforce immigration laws. The company emphasized that it operates in accordance with federal standards and maintains regular oversight to ensure the humane treatment of detainees.
“Our facilities are contractually required to uphold rigorous federal immigration detention standards, which is a higher standard than some other facilities are required to meet. Our facilities are regularly subject to independent audits without any prior notice,” Gustin said.
However, immigration rights activists remain concerned. Gina McAfee, the Statewide Coordinator of Colorado Immigrant Protection Teams, said in a statement provided to the Clarion that for-profit detention centers have “horrible human rights abuses in their records.”
While CoreCivic claims to offer more than 24% cost savings to taxpayers by operating its facilities, McAfee states that economic benefits to rural areas are overstated or false.
Advocates like McAfee argue that the expansion of detention centers could stigmatize immigrants and strain local communities.
The debate over expanding ICE detention facilities in Colorado highlights broader national tensions over human rights, immigration enforcement and the role of for-profit prisons. The Colorado chapter of the ACLU said it will continue monitoring federal plans for additional facilities.
