Legal Action Launched Against Immigrant Detention Facility in Hudson
HUDSON — Advocacy groups for immigrants have filed a lawsuit targeting the Trump administration’s plan to establish a new immigrant detention center in Hudson. The legal action, announced Thursday, seeks to prevent the reopening of the facility, which was previously closed.
Community and Nonprofit Groups Unite in Opposition
The complaint, brought forward by residents of Colorado City and Weld County, alongside a nonprofit group of faith leaders advocating for humane immigration policies, challenges the Town of Hudson and its Town Council. They argue that the city must uphold its land development ordinance as the federal government attempts to reactivate a private prison, repurposed as a 1,188-bed detention center.
Concerns Over Zoning Compliance
According to the lawsuit filed in Weld County District Court, Together Colorado asserts that the facility, previously utilized as a prison by the Alaska Department of Corrections until its closure in 2013, is not zoned for detention purposes. The organization insists that any change of use requires a public approval process in accordance with Hudson’s municipal code.
Local Governance and Responsibility
David Seligman, the executive director of the nonprofit law firm Towards Justice and the attorney representing the case, emphasized the town’s responsibilities. He stated, “This case is about a fundamental proposition: The state of Colorado and its cities are not powerless. The Town of Hudson has the authority and obligation to act. Hudson’s duty lies with its residents, not with a multibillion-dollar prison corporation or external landowners.”
Federal Agreement and Expansion of Detention Capacity
This lawsuit follows a recent announcement from the private prison corporation Geo Group, which disclosed a five-year contract with the Trump administration to reopen prisons that had closed under a previous mass deportation initiative. The deal, exceeding $500 million, aims to nearly double the capacity of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Colorado, adding to Geo Group’s existing facility in Aurora, which currently accommodates over 1,500 detainees.
Details About the Planned Facility
While the timeline for the opening of the Hudson facility, known as the Bighorn Contract Detention Center, remains unclear, its lease is set to commence on August 1 and extend for 88 months, according to regulatory filings. Hudson, a small town located roughly 30 miles northeast of Denver, has experienced significant local protests against the federal government’s plans.
Community Leaders Respond to Federal Plans
Town officials have maintained that determining federal immigration policies falls outside their purview and that they have limited authority over land use decisions. However, Together Colorado insists that Hudson carries both a legal and ethical responsibility to adhere to its own regulations regarding land development.
Calls for Moral Accountability
At a news conference outside Hudson City Hall, Seligman asserted that “GEO and ICE are not above the law,” urging local leaders not to ignore the situation. Faith leaders from across Colorado joined him, highlighting what they described as a “moral crisis for our country.” Some carried signs emblazoned with phrases like “No Concentration Camps in Colorado,” while others held a moment of prayer. The Rev. Ben Konecny, pastor of First Congregational Church in Greeley, stated, “Foreigners living among us are not our enemies; they represent our future doctors, lawyers, and teachers.”
