Full Breakdown
Colorado AG Files Federal Lawsuit to Block Planned ICE Detention Center in Hudson
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt the conversion of the former Hudson Correctional Facility into a 1,200-bed immigration detention center. The suit targets the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that the agencies failed to conduct required environmental and infrastructure reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before awarding a five-year contract to the GEO Group.
Background & Context
The GEO Group secured a contract in July to renovate the shuttered prison, which closed in 2013. The project would create Colorado’s second full-scale ICE detention facility, joining an existing private center in Aurora. The contract is valued at over $500 million. Earlier suits by GreenLatinos, the Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition, and Together Colorado also allege NEPA violations and local land-use code breaches.
Data & Statistics
- Capacity: ~1,200 detainee beds.
- Town population: ~1,600 residents; the facility would nearly double local population.
- Environmental concerns: proximity to deer migration corridors, the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, and Box Elder Creek—a designated aquatic-species conservation area.
- Infrastructure impact: town may need an additional well; questions remain about roads, wastewater treatment, and air-quality emissions.
Official Statements & Responses
Weiser asked the court to cancel the GEO Group contract and issue a preliminary injunction pending a proper NEPA review. DHS responded that the lawsuit “is not about the environment” but an attempt to stop the Trump administration’s immigration-enforcement agenda. Hudson town manager Bryce Lange declined to comment, saying the town believes its utilities can meet demand.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents voiced mixed reactions. Alea Swank, a junior at Weld Central High School, said she did not expect the detention center to generate significant local attention. JC Steed highlighted the potential economic boost, while Wendy Homstad emphasized concerns about zoning compliance and environmental harm.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Contract amount: sources list $528.6 million, $528.7 million, and a generic “over $500 million.”
- Closure year: cited as 2013 in some reports and 2014 in others.
- No public environmental impact statement has been released, leaving a gap in documented analysis of air quality, traffic, and wildlife effects.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This facility has been shuttered for quite some time. It can’t just be picked up and put into use without going through the required reviews. They’re there for a reason,” — Phil Weiser, Colorado AG
- “We are pleased to see the AG bringing similar claims to ensure laws are followed while protecting community and public health,” — Ean Thomas Tafoya, vice president of state programs for GreenLatinos