The ACLU has obtained FOIA documents that reveal more details about the ICE facility in Weld County at a former state prison in Hudson that closed over a decade ago. According to the documents, GEO Group, a private prison company, received a $39 million contract to operate the facility for six months. The detention center is reportedly being called the Big Horn Correctional Facility. CBS News reported that hundreds of people from “all over the country” showed up to the Hudson facility to protest.
Several people also spoke during the public comment portion of the city council meeting, but there was no formal agenda item for the meeting. Councilman Zach Reyes said the council has not been approached by GEO Group or ICE regarding the planned detention center. “The town can only enforce code requirements set forth with current ordinances in effect both locally and with the state,” Reyes said.
“IPT [Immigrant Protection Teams] organizers have repeatedly stressed to the community of Hudson that the opening of new private prison infrastructure will not bring prosperity to their community,” The protest event page says. “The promise of jobs and opportunity that GEO espouses is highly exaggerated, and numerous studies show the damage private prison infrastructure does to local economies long-term.”…