Colorado
Colorado Congressional Democrats demand ICE abandon plans for Hudson immigration detention center
Three of Colorado’s congressional Democrats are calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to abandon plans to open a new immigration detention facility in the small Weld County town of Hudson.
“As ICE agents continue to terrorize our communities, illegally detain U.S. citizens and skirt congressional oversight of existing facilities, we strongly oppose the expansion of ICE detention beds in Colorado,” U.S. Rep. Brittany Petterson and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE director Todd Lyons.
Documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado revealed that ICE had identified a defunct private prison in Hudson as the site for a new immigration detention center, the Big Horn Facility, that would expand detention beds from 1,532 at ICE’s existing detention facility in Aurora to more than 2,700 beds across the state.
The documents showed that ICE issued a contract to the GEO Group for $39,042,069 for six months of services at the Big Horn Facility, according to the congressional letter. The documents were heavily redacted, so details about the contract — including terms and pricing — were not yet known. The status of the contract remains unclear.
DHS representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
“We are deeply concerned that this expansion will lead to decreased oversight, reduced access to legal representation for detained individuals and increased geographical barriers for visitors,” Petterson, Bennet and Hickenlooper wrote. “The GEO Group and ICE have a demonstrated history of blocking Congressional oversight of the Aurora GEO Detention Facility by refusing Members of Congress access to the facility, withholding answers to oversight questions, and failing to respond to congressional casework inquiries. There is no reason to believe that these illegal actions will not be continued in the Big Horn Facility.”
ICE also redacted more than 100 pages of documents from late August that appeared to justify why the agency should award a sole contract to the GEO Group for the Hudson facility without full and open competition.
The possible ICE expansion into Hudson has drawn opposition from across Colorado. Protesters have gathered outside the former private prison multiple times and flooded the small town’s council meetings, pleading with Hudson leaders to push back against the proposed plans.
The congressional letter noted that the facility’s remote location would hinder family and legal representatives from visiting detained immigrants, delaying legal proceedings and limiting access to counsel.
“We therefore seek clarity into the Department of Homeland Security decision to authorize such a facility and what actions it will take to ensure those detained in the facility will have equal and adequate access to legal representation as their cases remain ongoing,” they wrote. “We strongly oppose the use of the Big Horn Detention Center as an ICE detention facility, and we urge DHS to immediately abandon plans to expand detention capacity in Colorado.”
Pettersen, Bennet and Hickenlooper requested responses to eight questions by March 13. They asked for confirmation that the GEO Group had already received and spent nearly $39 million prior to anyone being detained in the facility, and requested an itemized explanation of how that money was spent.
They also asked how many beds ICE expects the facility to hold and what steps will be taken to ensure health and safety standards are met.
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An investigation is underway after authorities found a body near a picnic area in western Colorado last weekend that appears to have been eaten by a bear.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office says the human remains were located on Sunday near the Wild Rose Picnic Area off Lands End Road on the Grand Mesa. Investigators say the remains were scavenged and scattered, and they believe the person was consumed by a bear and other wildlife.
The Mesa County Coroner’s Office is working to identify the person and officially determine their cause of death.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who was in the area of the Wild Rose Campground between June 22 and July 5, 2026, and noticed anything suspicious to contact Investigator Jenna Reed at (970) 244-3274.
They added that Colorado Parks and Wildlife believes there is no threat to the community at this time.
The area is home to black bears, and the MCSO shared several guidelines for the community to prevent human-bear conflicts:
- Stay alert and together: Go with others when possible, keep children in sight and close by, and avoid using headphones so you can hear your surroundings.
- Food safety: Double-bag food, pack out all food and trash, and don’t burn scraps and trash in fire rings/grills or leave them behind.
- Pet safety: Keep dogs on a leash at all times or leave them at home; don’t force a bear to defend itself.
- Camping safety: Set up camps away from dense cover or natural food sources and do not cook or store food near/in a tent. Secure food in bear-resistant containers or suspend at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet away from any part of the tree.
- Know how to respond: Don’t approach bears; quietly move away. Never run, as it may trigger a chase response. If a bear approaches, stand your ground, wave your arms, and yell until it leaves. Stay with your group, use bear spray, and fight back aggressively if necessary.
- Bear spray: Carry bear spray and know how to use it correctly. It’s not repellent; don’t spray your tent, campsite, or belongings.
Damage assessments are still ongoing for homes and businesses affected by the Aspen Acres Fire in southern Colorado, but over 200 homes have been confirmed destroyed so far. The United Way of Southern Colorado is working to raise relief funds for those affected and says it’s making progress towards its fundraising goal.
In an update on Wednesday afternoon, Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said they’ve assessed approximately 67% of the properties affected in the county. Authorities have confirmed the loss of 192 homes and four commercial structures so far and are working to contact property owners as quickly as possible.
Lucero urged everyone affected by the fire to use the survivor portal for more information on assistance.
Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith says they’ve lost approximately 83 homes so far, almost 2% of the county’s homes. The worst hit area is along the Highway 165 corridor, Smith added. He said that authorities don’t expect any new evacuation areas, but are not yet ready to release the existing evacuation orders.
Smith said a hotline is available during business hours for affected Custer County Residents to ask questions. He urged residents to contact them at (719) 467-0271 and advised they may need to leave a voicemail if the line is busy due to the high number of calls.
A flash flood watch is in effect for areas near the burn scar, which could affect nearby homes.
The President of the United Way of Southern Colorado, Shanna Farmer, said the organization is working to raise wildfire relief funds for those affected. Over the last few days, they have reached just over $417,000 of their $10 million goal.
“It has been incredible, the number of individuals and companies who have come out to support, to provide matches, and to provide innovative ways to raise those funds,” said Farmer. “And so, I encourage anyone who is willing to work with us on a corporate, business, or individual level to please reach out because it is going to take all of us to help rebuild.”
Farmer said that the community not only needs help with their immediate needs but also long-term support. She urged anyone interested in donating to visit their website.
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office says anyone who has evacuated needs to contact the Disaster Assistance Center located at 29 Lehigh Ave. in Pueblo. The center is open between 9 a.m and 6 p.m. and provides multiple resources for those forced to evacuate.
Residents must also visit the center to obtain a re-entry pass, which will allow them to return home once evacuation orders have been lifted. A photo ID and proof of residency are required. Visitors can sign up online to reserve a place in line for faster service.
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