HUDSON, Colo. — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit to stop plans for an immigration detention center to open at a former prison in Hudson.
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement signed a five-year contract with the GEO group in July to open a detention center at the the former Hudson Correction Facility, which is about 30 mile northeast of Denver. Weiser says the contract is valued at over $500 million. The prison operated for about five years before closing in 2014.
Federal officials say they planned to reopen it as a 1,200-bed private immigration detention facility called the Big Horn.
Weiser on Tuesday announced that a lawsuit has been filed in the federal district court in Denver to stop the facility from opening. The lawsuit alleges DHS and ICE ignored their legal duties of considering possible environmental and residential impacts, providing the public with information and ensuring the location was appropriate.
“Coloradans are deeply worried about plans to open a new immigrant detention facility in Hudson to carry out the Trump administration’s inhumane—and often illegal—mass deportation scheme. Despite the fact that the proposed facility would nearly double the size of the town’s population, the federal government has failed to prepare the necessary analysis of the facility’s impact on the local community and resources. We’re asking the court to stop any further activities to open and operate the Hudson site until DHS and ICE conduct the legal analysis required by law,” Weiser said in a statement.
Denver7's Maggie Bryan has more on the lawsuit in the video below:
The attorney general is asking the court to cancel the contract between the federal agencies and the GEO group and stop work to open the facility "until the government complies with the law," according to a press release. The press release also says the lawsuit is asking the court to order them "to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under NEPA and document their compliance with federal immigration law."
"Will the underlying infrastructure, roads, drinking water, wastewater treatment, be able to sustain this sort of facility? And is there appropriate infrastructure in place to engage in the humane treatment of over 1,000 people," Weiser said during a press conference Tuesday.
Weiser said that because the facility has not been operating and plans to transition from a prison to an immigration detention center, federal agencies are required to complete new environmental reviews. He said the state doesn't have information on the work that's needed to make sure the facility is suitable to house people again.
"We have a sworn statement in this lawsuit from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials or an official that this facility is harmful to the surrounding environment, including the fact that there are nearby deer migration carters that would be affected. There's an aquatic habitat that could be harmed, and protected and sensitive species in the vicinity also subject to harm," Weiser said.
This is the third lawsuit brought against plans for the Big Horn Facility. GreenLatinos and the Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition filed a similar lawsuit earlier this month claiming federal agencies did not follow the right environment review processes.
"We are pleased to see the AG bringing similar claims to ensure laws are followed while protecting community and public health," said Ean Thomas Tafoya, the vice president of state programs for GreenLatinos.
The first lawsuit against the planned facility was brought by the nonprofit Together Colorado and Hudson residents against the Town of Hudson. The plaintiffs argue town officials are not enforcing their own zoning and land-use laws by allowing the facility to reopen.
"The town is essentially throwing their hands up, saying it's out of our control. There's nothing we can do. That's the end of it," said plaintiff and Hudson resident Wendy Homstad. "This is apolitical. This is not blue versus red."
Not all Hudson residents are against the facility. JC Steed said he believes the proposal could bring much-needed jobs to a town that needs them.
"That place is sitting up there empty. We need more jobs in town, there’s not a whole lot of jobs in town," said Steed.
Hudson Town Manager Bryce Lange told Denver7 the town does not have a comment on the recent lawsuit, but said town officials are not aware of any environmental studies DHS/ICE has done.
A DHS spokesperson sent Denver7 the following statement in response to Weiser's lawsuit:
Let’s be honest about this. This isn’t about the environment. It’s about trying to stop President Trump from making America safe again. The left didn’t care about the mountains of litter that illegal aliens dumped on ranches and riverbeds during Biden’s border crisis. They’re feigning concern now because they want those same illegal aliens to stay forever—and vote here as well.
ICE can confirm the award of a contract to the GEO Group for detention services at the Big Horn Facility in Hudson, Colorado. This additional detention capacity strengthens ICE’s ability to implement the Administration’s immigration enforcement priorities, restore integrity to the nation’s immigration system, and protect public safety.
Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.
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