Immigrant Rights Groups Challenge Hudson’s Plan for Detention Facility
Immigrant rights organizations have initiated legal action against the Town of Hudson in a bid to halt the Trump administration’s initiative to convert a decommissioned private prison into an immigrant detention center. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in Weld County District Court, claims the facility lacks the proper zoning for such a purpose and alleges that town officials have disregarded their own land use regulations by allowing GEO Group to operate the detention center without the necessary special permissions.
The complaint asserts that the Town of Hudson’s actions inadequately address the plan to introduce a 1,200-bed immigrant detention facility within its boundaries. Protests have been ongoing at the site of the former Hudson Correctional Facility, particularly following Florida-based GEO Group’s recent announcement of a five-year, $528.7 million contract to run the newly designated Bighorn Immigration Detention Center in Colorado.
In response to the lawsuit, Town Manager Bryce Lang refrained from addressing the specific allegations directly. “While we understand that immigration enforcement policy is a topic of national debate, the town’s role is not to make immigration enforcement decisions,” he explained. Lang emphasized the town’s focus on local responsibilities, such as water management, roads, and public safety.
The lawsuit has been brought forward by Together Colorado, an interfaith nonprofit dedicated to advocating for human dignity, along with Weld County resident Janet Carlson, with workers’ rights organization Towards Justice representing them. Hudson, a small town located 30 miles northeast of Denver, has a population of around 1,600, and community members voiced their discontent at a town council meeting last week in opposition to the detention facility.
Despite local resistance, town authorities denied having the jurisdiction to obstruct the establishment of federal immigration detention operations. “The town does not have approval authority for federal immigration detention operations at this private facility,” local officials declared after announcing the GEO contract.
David Seligman, executive director of Towards Justice, contested this assertion, claiming the town possesses both the authority and the responsibility to intervene in such matters. “Mr. Hudson is not a bystander,” he asserted, referencing his recent campaign for state attorney general. “The town has the authority and obligation to act.”
The complaint details that the land designated for this facility is zoned for industrial use, which, according to the terms, does not encompass jails or correctional institutions. The site had previously been utilized as a private prison by the state of Alaska, operating under a conditional use permit established in 2008, which was approved by local voters. This permit mandates that any proposed changes to the facility’s specific usage must receive town government approval.
Since its closure in 2013, the facility has been vacant. During a recent town meeting, Hudson officials expressed their intentions to prepare for the potential repercussions of the detention center operation, including coordination with local emergency response agencies. However, the extent of what is known remains limited.
Mayor Lange informed residents that the town is in the process of establishing direct communication with GEO to ascertain the center’s operational schedule, staffing, and traffic implications. However, the company’s track record in other regions raises concerns, particularly regarding transparency and cooperation with local officials. GEO also operates the Aurora immigration detention facility under a contract with ICE and has faced criticism from local health officials for allegedly obstructing investigations into outbreaks of tuberculosis.
In a statement, Pastor Ben Konecny of First Congregational Church of Greeley emphasized the moral implications of opposing the detention facility. “ICE detention facilities have proven time and time again to be the scene of human rights atrocities and constitutional violations,” Konecny said, asserting that this situation is no exception.
This article was updated Thursday at 6:42 p.m. to incorporate comments from Hudson Town Administrator. Reporting by Colleen Slevin also contributed to this piece.
