AURORA | A split city council approved a package of new measures designed to give the city more oversight of the GEO Group’s immigration detention center.
Progressive members of the council approved the new oversight measures on a 6-4 vote, with council members Françoise Bergan, Curtis Gardner, Stephanie Hancock and Angela Lawson opposed.
The package consists of a resolution that would give city council oversight on contracts with immigration enforcement and detention agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and GEO Group, as well as ordinances requiring detention facilities in the city to undergo regular city inspections and report disease outbreaks.
Several residents at Monday’s meeting urged the council to support the oversight measures as a way to address some of the allegations of inhumane conditions.
“It’s important that we do these inspections because that little tiny bit of harm reduction is one of the most truly impactful things that you as a council have the power to do,” Aly DeWills-Marcano said. “Prevent infectious diseases from spreading, stop abuse and neglect and save lives.”
The resolution and ordinances stem from a number of concerns with the health and safety of people detained at the GEO facility. Earlier this year, the Adams County Health Department reported that staff at the GEO facility delayed and denied access to facility employees during an investigation about a potential flu outbreak.
Another report from the Colorado chapter of the American Friends Service Committee alleged the facility doesn’t provide enough food or adequate medical care, according to reporting from Colorado Newsline.
This week, the GEO Group sued state officials over a new law that requires frequent health and safety inspections at the site, saying the requirement is burdensome and runs afoul of federal authority.
The law requires the facility be inspected by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at least every three months to ensure compliance with food, water and medical safety standards. It allows a $50,000 fine if GEO denies access for inspections.
Local lawmakers stood resolute in ensuring local inspections.
Despite the opposition from conservative council members, they mostly didn’t comment on Monday. Councilmember Françoise Bergan, who previously called the resolution “performative,” reiterated that she didn’t see the need for the measures.
Bergan said the ordinance for reporting diseases was unnecessary because there’s already a process in place requiring the detention center to report to the county health departments, which share the information with the appropriate city departments.
“We do get that information currently, so all to say that again we do not have authority over federal agencies,” she said.
City Attorney Pete Schulte confirmed that the city has limited authority over federal government property. He previously told the council that the inspection ordinance is a key step to being able to enforce the city’s oversight abilities, but it will likely not automatically grant city officials access to federal facilities.
One ordinance will set up quarterly and annual inspections, including random and unannounced visits, of detention centers for occupancy and habitability standards, which the city will define. The city would take advantage of existing staff from housing and community services to conduct inspections.
The other ordinance will require detention centers to notify the city fire department within 48 hours of reportable diseases, as well as allow police and fire to respond to calls for service and investigations.
Mayor Mike Coffman also questioned the necessity of the resolution directing contracts to council.
Typically, the city manager, not city council, approves contracts under $50,000. Under the approved resolution, contracts with detention and immigration agencies of any amount would go to council.
Schulte said the city doesn’t currently have any contracts or pending contracts with the GEO facility, but any future contracts would be subject to the resolution.
Councilmember Gianina Horton said she believes it’s the city’s duty to ensure the detention centers have humane conditions and properly report health concerns.
“I refuse to accept the arguments of limitations on how we can hold the GEO detention center accountable,” Horton said. “I refuse to accept complacency. What I value is courage. The courage to see wrong and right and fight for a righteous path forward.”