(WELD COUNTY, COLORADO) Denver activists trying to stop a new immigration jail at the Hudson Correctional Facility have not convinced Weld County or the town of Hudson to oppose the project, and plans to reopen the former prison as an ICE detention center are advancing toward a late-2025 launch. Local officials cite jobs and limited local control, while opponents pivot to courts after door-to-door canvassing drew little support.
The move comes amid a broader federal push to expand immigration enforcement under President Trump, including a reported budget surge of $45 billion for detention beds and $30 billion to hire 10,000 more employees. ICE says it has outgrown current capacity in Colorado, where the Aurora detention center has been full for months and holds roughly 1,300 people, a record level that has forced transfers out of state.
The Hudson Correctional Facility, closed since 2014 and owned by Highlands REIT, Inc., is slated to reopen as an ICE site by the end of 2025. The GEO Group, the prior operator, has submitted a bid and says the complex is well maintained and could be running “in a matter of months” if given the green light. Capacity ranges from 1,250 to 1,256 beds, according to planning documents.
Local push meets hard limits
Denver organizer Dana Miller and volunteers canvassed Hudson in early September seeking local allies. Many residents voiced support for reopening or dismissed the effort. Hudson Town Council member Matt Cole told canvassers the town has no real control over whether the immigration jail reopens and said many neighbors resent outside pressure. Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams publicly called the plan “great news for Weld County and Colorado.”
The political and legal reality limits local leverage:
- The property is privately owned.
- Potential contracts would be federal.
- Weld County and the town of Hudson can enforce only existing building codes and permits.
- Local councils cannot block the site’s use as an ICE detention center.
That framework has left many officials either supportive because of jobs or resigned to the outcome even if they have concerns about traffic and utilities.
With persuasion stalling, activists are shifting to legal strategies. The ACLU of Colorado and allied groups are examining environmental and procedural claims, pointing to lawsuits in Florida that temporarily halted new ICE facilities. Attorneys say environmental review, contracting rules, and public records requests could offer tools to delay or stop the Hudson project, though timelines are uncertain and outcomes depend on facts still being gathered.
ICE arrests in the Denver region have jumped, with more than 2,900 people taken into custody so far in 2025, about five times the 2023 pace. Officials are holding more people without final deportation orders. With the Aurora site at capacity, ICE has sent detainees out of state, adding distance for families and lawyers. Backers say the Hudson Correctional Facility would ease that pressure inside Colorado.
For immigrants, the expected opening would lift Colorado’s detention capacity by roughly 80% and likely keep more people in-state during their cases. Advocates warn expansion can worsen conditions already questioned at Aurora, including:
- Overcrowding
- Food issues
- Limited access to legal counsel
Families fear longer separations and higher costs when a loved one is held, even if the facility sits closer to home.
What the new detention site would mean
Local leaders and proponents emphasize economic benefits:
- Jobs for corrections staff and support services
- Contracts for transportation, food vendors, and maintenance
- Economic activity in rural communities
GEO Group has said the complex is ready for a rapid reopening, implying a hiring wave. Supporters argue those paychecks matter; critics counter that private detention work brings:
- Safety risks
- High turnover
- Potential lawsuits
- Increased strain on public infrastructure (roads, water, emergency services)
Legal and procedural focus of challenges
Lawyers tracking the plan say any successful challenge will likely focus on process rather than politics. Possible legal avenues include claims about:
- Environmental impact review
- Procurement and contracting steps
- Health and safety standards inside the facility
- Use of public records and document requests to reveal contracts and schedules
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, groups in other states have sometimes used document requests and court filings to slow openings long enough to force changes.
Records obtained by advocates indicate ICE weighed at least six Colorado sites before identifying Hudson for immediate action. GEO has pitched the Hudson Correctional Facility as a turnkey option because the buildings and security systems remain in place. Company statements suggest a contract could put the site online quickly, while ICE has remained noncommittal about specific locations until deals are final.
Officials currently expect the site to accept detainees by late 2025, though legal action could delay that schedule. People seeking official information on detention operations can review guidance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE has said rising arrests and full jails require more beds, but has not confirmed final contracts for Hudson. GEO says the facility could be staffed and running within months of an award.
Community and family impacts
For families in Weld County, the stakes are personal. A parent picked up at work may have a hearing scheduled within days, but getting a lawyer requires time and money. A closer facility can help with visits, yet more beds often mean more arrests.
Faith groups and neighborhood coalitions in Denver and nearby towns are preparing:
- Visitation networks
- Bond support
- Legal aid coordination in case the site opens on schedule
Key stakeholders and positions
- Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams: supports reopening and calls it good news for the region.
- Hudson Town Council member Matt Cole: says the town lacks authority to stop the project and criticizes outside pressure.
- GEO Group: says the complex is maintained and ready for rapid restart.
- Highlands REIT, Inc.: owns the property and seeks reopening.
- ACLU of Colorado: preparing environmental and procedural challenges.
- ICE: cites arrest growth and capacity limits while avoiding site-specific commitments.
Unless courts intervene, contractors and ICE will move ahead through procurement and inspections. Activists plan to keep filing suits. For now, officials call the Hudson Correctional Facility a practical response to record arrests. Opponents describe an expanded pipeline that will pull more neighbors into custody. The coming months will test both arguments.
This Article in a Nutshell
Local organizers in Denver have failed to persuade Weld County and the town of Hudson to oppose reopening the Hudson Correctional Facility as an ICE detention center, which is moving toward a late-2025 launch. The privately owned site, once run by GEO Group and owned by Highlands REIT, could add about 1,250–1,256 beds—raising Colorado’s detention capacity roughly 80%. Supporters emphasize jobs and local contracts; opponents point to overcrowding, food and legal access issues, and seek delays through environmental, procurement, and records-based legal strategies led by groups including the ACLU of Colorado. ICE cites rising arrests and full jails in Aurora to justify more beds. While local governments can enforce building codes, federal contracts limit their authority to block the project. If courts don’t intervene, ICE and contractors could proceed through procurement and inspections, but legal challenges could delay opening timelines.
