As Public Health Compliance Deadline Approaches, Hickenlooper Conducts Oversight Visit to Aurora ICE Detention Center

Hickenlooper demanded transparency on recent TB case at the Aurora facility from ICE and GEO and compliance with state order

DENVER - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper conducted a congressional oversight visit to the Aurora ICE Detention Center in advance of tonight's deadline for the GEO Group, the private company that operates the detention center, to comply with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's public health order in the aftermath of at least 12 reported cases of tuberculosis (TB) at the facility.

"Despite this being an extremely contagious disease, both ICE and GEO, the private-prison company contracted to run this place, have obstructed state and local health officials," said Hickenlooper after his visit to the facility. "ICE and GEO need to stop stonewalling, tell health officials who's been exposed, and help us stop tuberculosis from spreading. That's how we keep Coloradans safe."

In June, Adams County Health Department was notified of a case of suspected TB at the facility, triggering a routine investigation, which was blocked by GEO. Since, it's been reported that at least 12 people at the Aurora facility have tested positive for TB. In response to inquiries from Hickenlooper's office, Colorado press, and public health officials, ICE continues to say that there are no active TB cases at the facility, but have provided zero proof of these claims. Last week, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ordered ICE to allow authorities to investigate the possible spread and require GEO to submit medical information and reports to the state health department and the Denver Health Tuberculosis Clinic by end of day today.

Hickenlooper held meetings with Adams County and state public health officials before and after his oversight visit today.

Hickenlooper has been outspoken in the face of ICE's lawlessness and demanded a top-to-bottom overhaul of the agency to stop ICE from terrorizing our communities. Hickenlooper also voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to overhaul ICE. He has consistently pushed for more oversight and transparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. In January, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, condemn the reports that families in Eagle County found "death cards" left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He's shown up at ICE facilities previously to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process. He helped launch an investigation into ICE's unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and introduced bills to ban ICE from wearing masks, prevent immigration enforcement from targeting schools, hospitals, polling locations, and places of worship, and cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave them. Following the shooting at the Aurora ICE facility by a GEO Group employee, Hickenlooper condemned the shooting and called for a thorough review of DHS policies to help prevent similar incidents.

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