Immigration advocates press for action on tuberculosis case at Aurora ICE facility

Advocates are urging Colorado officials to do everything in their legal power to investigate and resolve what they fear is a tuberculosis outbreak at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Aurora.

A coalition including health care workers and leaders from statewide organizations — including the American Friends Services Committee, Casa de Paz, the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Mental Health Colorado and the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians — sent a letter to Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser on Friday, demanding his office “take action and do whatever possible to safeguard the basic rights and lives of those in the detention facility … and to hold those responsible for the noncompliance and this resultant public health emergency accountable.”

The Adams County Health Department issued a public health order for a tuberculosis case inside the facility from early June and says it is aware of one laboratory-confirmed case. Reports on the spread of the disease vary, and a person detained in the facility told The Guardian this week that at least 12 people have tested positive for the disease. That anonymous source said his entire pod of 88 people were tested and then quarantined. The health department has not verified those reports.

“It should not be the responsibility of those inside to do public health contact tracing,” said Holly Cheng, a nurse who is part of the Shut Down GEO Coaltion. “To AG Weiser, we say you do have the responsibility to step up. It is not the responsibility of us or the families inside to make sure that this outbreak is not spreading rampantly.”

An unnamed ICE spokesperson wrote that as of Friday, there are no “confirmed active” tuberculosis cases and that the department is in compliance with Colorado law and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The person with the June case was treated, cleared and then deported.

Tuberculosis is a highly-contagious airborne disease that largely impacts a person’s lungs. Under Colorado law, local public health agencies are required to investigate active cases. Those public health investigations consist of identifying and testing people who may have been exposed, providing treatment and working to prevent additional community spread. Tuberculosis is treated with daily antibiotics for a months-long period.

On Tuesday, the head of Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment, Jill Hunsaker Ryan, demanded access to the detention facility and relevant records to conduct a public health investigation. She gave The GEO Group, the private company that runs the facility, until Friday to comply. It is not clear what will happen if the deadline passes without access, though a new state law allows hefty fines for immigration detention facilities that deny public health departments the ability to investigate disease and health concerns.

Now, the group of advocates want Weiser to intervene and force compliance.

“It is especially troubling to hear that both The GEO Group and the Department of Homeland Security are refusing to cooperate with the state mandated public health investigation,” the letter says. “The investigation is vital to properly treat those infected and to prevent the spread of this life-threatening illness.”

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The letter’s signatories want Weiser and other state leaders to force access to the Adams health department and CDPHE and ensure proper medical care for infected people.  They also want screening and tracking for the people detained and employees of the Aurora facility.

“People inside GEO need help, not just around tuberculosis, but around healthcare. What is happening around tuberculosis is showing the incredible neglect that is happening inside,” said Miriam Ordoñez with AFSC.

“There are multiple laws in place in Colorado for this particular reason, and  we want answers from from Phil Weiser. What is being done?” she said.

In a statement, Weiser said he is ready to work with the governor’s office and other state officials to bring GEO into compliance with the law, but he did not say exactly what that action would be.

“As a private company, GEO Group is required to comply with state health and safety regulations,” he said. “The reported tuberculosis case at the ICE detention camp in Aurora is a serious public health issue and GEO must work with the State to investigate any potential outbreak or exposure to others.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:30 p.m., July 17, 2026, with comments from an ICE spokesperson.