Colorado Attorney-General Phil Weiser said he is prepared to work with the governor and state public-health officials to force a privately run immigration detention centre in Aurora to permit an investigation following the confirmation of at least one case of tuberculosis (TB) and reports of further suspected infections.
Standoff over access to detainees
Adams County Public Health confirmed one TB case at the GEO Group-run Aurora ICE Processing Center and said it had heard reports of other cases that it had not independently verified. Federal immigration officials have denied there are TB cases at the facility. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, whose district includes Aurora, has said both GEO and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were refusing to let public-health teams enter and assess detainees.
Calls from community groups and the Attorney-General
Community organisations delivered a letter to Weiser asking him to compel GEO and ICE to allow health authorities to screen detainees, provide treatment to anyone infected and identify those potentially exposed. GEO Group’s corporate relations director directed media queries to ICE. ICE had not responded to requests for comment from the reporting outlet.
“As a private company, GEO Group is required to comply with state health and safety regulations. The reported tuberculosis case at the ICE detention camp in Aurora is a serious public health issue and GEO must work with the State to investigate any potential outbreak or exposure to others,”
The Attorney‑General’s office said Weiser’s office stands ready to coordinate with the governor’s office and state health officials to bring the company into compliance with the law.
Related security incident
Amid the dispute over health access, an employee of GEO Group was arrested after a woman was shot following a protest outside the facility. The arrest was described in reporting but no further details about charges or the injured person’s condition were provided in the source material.
- Confirmed case: Adams County Public Health – one confirmed TB case inside the facility.
- Access denied: Allegations that GEO and ICE are not allowing state health officials into the facility.
- State response: Colorado AG says he will act to ensure compliance with state health and safety rules.
- Security incident: Shooting after a protest; a GEO employee was arrested.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | Adams County Public Health confirms one TB case at the GEO Aurora ICE Processing Center; reports of additional suspected cases emerge |
| July 17, 2026 | Colorado AG Phil Weiser says he is ready to work with state officials to compel access; community groups deliver letter |
| July 16–17, 2026 | Protest outside the facility; a woman was shot and a GEO employee was arrested |
As of 5 p.m. on July 17, reporting indicated no resolution to the impasse over health‑authority access. Public-health experts generally warn that TB, if untreated in congregate settings, can spread and pose risk to detainees and staff; however, the reporting does not include additional confirmed case counts or details of any public-health measures taken inside the facility.
Local and state officials now face competing responsibilities: to protect the public’s health by ensuring appropriate screening and treatment, and to navigate jurisdictional limits when facilities are operated under federal contracts. The Attorney‑General’s statement frames the issue as one of legal compliance by a private contractor with state health and safety regulations, signalling potential legal or administrative steps if cooperation is not forthcoming.
