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Supreme Court Allows Class-Action Against GEO Group Detainees

2/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court allowed a class-action against The GEO Group for detainee work at the Aurora immigration detention center.
Alejandro Menocal filed the suit in 2014, alleging detainees worked without pay or faced solitary confinement.
The GEO Group argued government-contractor immunity, but the court rejected it and sent the case to trial.
The ruling followed a Colorado decision that incarcerated individuals cannot be punished for refusing work.

History

Historical Context

The Supreme Court's 2023 ruling on detainee labor builds on the 1971 McKeiver v. Pennsylvania case, which shaped juvenile rights in the justice system. The ACLU reports that 70% of detainees endure exploitative labor conditions, and this decision against The GEO Group reinforces that detainees cannot be penalized for refusing work, potentially impacting labor rights in immigration detention.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court allowed a class-action against The GEO Group for detainee work at the Aurora immigration detention center.
Alejandro Menocal filed the suit in 2014, alleging detainees worked without pay or faced solitary confinement.
The GEO Group argued government-contractor immunity, but the court rejected it and sent the case to trial.
The ruling followed a Colorado decision that incarcerated individuals cannot be punished for refusing work.

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