Complaint Seeks Investigation of Misuse and Overuse of Solitary Confinement at the Aurora ICE Contract Detention Facility

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN), the American Immigration Council, and the National Immigration Project (NIPNLG), filed an administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility—demanding immediate investigation into the increased use and misuse of solitary confinement at the Aurora Contract Detention Center. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains hundreds of people in a private prison owned and operated by GEO Group, Inc., located in Aurora, Colorado.

“The endemic dehumanizing culture within the Aurora facility is heartless, abusive, and dangerous. The people—mothers, brothers, grandchildren—featured in this complaint demonstrate immeasurable bravery by stepping forward to share their experiences and provide examples of systemic mistreatment that time and again violate ICE’s own policies as well as federal disability rights law. They deserve better,” said Laura Lunn, Director of Advocacy & Litigation at RMIAN. “It is also important to highlight that this is happening in the state of Colorado, a place that works diligently to provide a welcoming and hospitable refuge to immigrants, migrants, and refugees. This complaint underscores that our local and state governments cannot prevent this type of harmful treatment as long as ICE operates in our communities.”

Read The Denver Post’s coverage here.

Read the Complaint in PDF form here and below.