Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed suit Wednesday against the privately held detention operator GEO Group, alleging the company refused to comply with a state public health order tied to a confirmed case of tuberculosis at the Aurora ICE Processing Center.
State seeks court order after weeks of noncompliance
According to the attorney general’s office, the lawsuit was filed in Adams County District Court after GEO Group failed to turn over information the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) requested as part of an investigation. State officials said GEO did not provide “medical information, potential contacts, and detainee discharge and transfer information” necessary for the probe and missed a state deadline.
“The GEO Group is endangering Coloradans’ public health by refusing to follow the state health department’s order and by violating Colorado law,”
The attorney general’s press release quoted Phil Weiser, who said the law exists to protect residents and enable the health department to take necessary measures to prevent the spread of contagious diseases such as tuberculosis. The suit requests that a court issue an injunction to halt what the state described as GEO Group’s “stonewalling of the state’s tuberculosis investigation.”
Why the state moved to litigation
State and local public health officials said the move to file a lawsuit followed weeks of limited cooperation by both GEO Group and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement related to a confirmed TB case at the Aurora facility in June. Public health investigators rely on timely access to medical records and contact information to identify and treat people who may have been exposed to contagious diseases; according to the state, those records were not produced.
Under Colorado law, state officials emphasized, it is unlawful to violate a public health order. The lawsuit frames the legal action as necessary to ensure compliance and protect the health of Coloradans.
Limited responses from GEO and federal agencies
WE NEWS reached out to GEO Group, which is based in Florida, and to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment. The company had not responded by the time of publication. ICE referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security, which had not responded.
Public health stakes: TB is curable but dangerous if untreated
Colorado officials highlighted that tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial disease that can be fatal if not treated. The public health order and subsequent court filing aim to enable state investigators to identify potential contacts, ensure diagnosis and treatment where needed, and reduce risks to the broader community.
- Where: Aurora ICE Processing Center.
- Who filed the lawsuit: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
- Where filed: Adams County District Court.
- State action sought: Injunction to compel GEO Group to comply with CDPHE’s investigation and public health order.
Timeline of events
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| June | Confirmed tuberculosis case at Aurora ICE Processing Center (reported to state officials). |
| Week before filing | CDPHE issued a public health order requesting medical and contact information; GEO missed the deadline. |
| Aug. 19, 2026 | Attorney General filed lawsuit in Adams County District Court seeking an injunction. |
Local and broader implications
The lawsuit underscores tension between state public health authorities and private contractors operating immigrant detention facilities, and it raises questions about access to medical and transfer records when communicable diseases are involved. For Aurora residents and those working in detention facilities, the dispute has practical implications: timely information is central to contact tracing, testing and treatment that can prevent outbreaks.
The state’s action also places the matter in the legal system, where a judge will consider whether to order GEO Group to comply and what remedies, if any, should follow. The outcome could affect how health departments interact with detention operators in future public health investigations.
The attorney general’s office said the suit is part of a broader effort to uphold Colorado’s public health laws and ensure that private companies operating in the state do not impede disease control efforts. The case is pending in Adams County District Court; no hearing date was disclosed in the state’s release.
WE NEWS will monitor court filings and responses from GEO Group and federal agencies as the case develops.
