John M. | Red Phoenix correspondent | Colorado–

In April 2025, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ACLU of Colorado revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is considering six new detention facilities across the state. These facilities, proposed in Colorado Springs, Hudson, La Junta, and Walsenburg, are part of a broader federal push to expand immigration detention infrastructure, backed by a staggering $45 billion in Congressional funding. This move, tied to the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, raises serious ethical concerns and threatens to inflict profound harm on Colorado’s communities. The proposed facilities are not only inhumane but also detrimental to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the state, perpetuating a system rooted in cruelty and exploitation.

The expansion of ICE detention facilities represents a continuation of policies that dehumanize immigrants, treating them as commodities in a for-profit prison system rather than as individuals with inherent dignity. The six proposed facilities, five of which are in southern Colorado, are largely owned by private prison corporations like CoreCivic and GEO Group, companies with documented histories of abuse, neglect, and profit-driven operations. The Aurora ICE Processing Center, the state’s only existing ICE facility, operated by GEO Group, has been plagued by allegations of medical negligence, inadequate nutrition, and routine rights violations. A 2019 ACLU of Colorado report, “Cashing in on Cruelty,” detailed death, abuse, and neglect at Aurora, and in 2024, the family of Melvin Ariel Calero Mendoza filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility for failing to diagnose and detect a dangerous blood clot in his right leg. Expanding this model to six additional sites would amplify a system that prioritizes profit over human lives.

Detention facilities inherently strip individuals of their freedom, often for non-criminal immigration violations. Data from 2025 shows that of 1,360 ICE arrests in Colorado under the current administration, over 400 were classified as “other immigration violators” with no criminal record. Detaining people without due process violates the most basic principles of justice. These facilities would disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, including asylum seekers, families, and individuals seeking safety from persecution, further entrenching a punitive approach to immigration that contradicts Colorado’s values of inclusivity and fairness.

The proposed ICE facilities threaten to destabilize Colorado’s communities in multiple ways. First, they erode community trust and safety. The presence of ICE agents, particularly in public spaces like courthouses, schools, and hospitals, creates a chilling effect, deterring immigrants from accessing essential services out of fear of detention or deportation. This fear extends beyond immigrants to their families, including U.S. citizen children and spouses, who face emotional and financial devastation when loved ones are detained. For example, a 2025 Colorado law, Senate Bill 276, was passed to limit local cooperation with ICE and protect immigrants’ access to public spaces, reflecting widespread community concern about federal overreach. Yet, the proposed expansion undermines these protections, signaling a disregard for local values and laws.

Economically, the facilities pose a threat by diverting resources from community-focused initiatives. The $45 billion allocated to ICE’s detention expansion exceeds the entire federal prison system’s budget and could instead fund schools, healthcare, or infrastructure that benefits all Coloradans. Private prison companies stand to profit massively, while communities bear the cost of increased fear, family separation, and social fragmentation. In Walsenburg, one proposed site, Mayor Garry Vezzani has expressed support, citing potential economic benefits like water and sewer infrastructure. However, this short-term gain pales in comparison to the long-term harm of aligning with a system that profits from human suffering and alienates immigrant communities that contribute billions to Colorado’s economy.

Socially, the facilities risk deepening division and xenophobia. By framing immigrants as threats requiring mass detention, the federal government fuels harmful narratives that undermine community cohesion. In Aurora, where ICE operations have been a focal point, advocates like the Colorado Rapid Response Network have documented increased fear and mistrust due to ICE’s tactics, such as using unmarked vehicles and targeting non-criminals. Expanding detention centers would normalize these tactics, further marginalizing immigrant communities and emboldening discriminatory attitudes.

Colorado’s history of defiance against ICE overreach offers hope. From the 2013 repeal of the “Show me your papers” law to the passage of Senate Bill 276 in 2025, the state has fought to protect immigrants. Grassroots efforts, like the Colorado Rapid Response Network’s 3,000 volunteers documenting ICE activity and distributing “Know Your Rights” cards, reflect a powerful commitment to justice. Advocates, including the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and Voces Unidas (United Voices), continue to challenge ICE’s human rights violations, pushing for accountability and humane policies.

The threat of these facilities is real, but so is the power of collective resistance. The ACLU’s FOIA victory exposes ICE’s plans, arming communities with the truth to fight back. Colorado’s legacy of solidarity, through protests, advocacy, and mutual aid, points to a future where mass detention is not just opposed but eradicated. The $45 billion slated for ICE could fund a vision of community safety rooted in education, healthcare, and legal pathways for immigrants, not cages. Now is the time to act with unyielding resolve. Organize, mobilize, and disrupt the machinery of detention. Join the protests, support rapid response networks, and demand the defunding of ICE’s expansion. Take to the streets, amplify the voices of the targeted, and confront those who profit from suffering. This is not just a fight for immigrants, it’s a fight for the soul of our communities.

Categories: Immigration, U.S. News