Colorado Delegation Pushes Congressional Hearing on Aurora Immigration Detention Facility

Following continued reports coming out of the Aurora ICE facility of poor conditions, Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06) this week partnered with Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02) to request an oversight hearing on the GEO private detention facility in Aurora.

The decision to request an oversight hearing comes in tandem as the House is set to consider the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill which incorporates Crow's bill, the Public Oversight of Detention (POD) Act, to require detention facilities to provide access to members of Congress through DHS and Department of Health and Human Services.

"We're going to exhaust all avenues until we get answers from ICE," said Crow. "As we face a humanitarian crisis at the border and disturbing conditions at detention facilities across the country, we will not stop until we get full accountability."

"It is absolutely critical that we shine a light on this Administration's inhumane treatment of immigrants and their repeated stonewalling of Congress," said Neguse. "I commend Congressman Crow for his continued efforts to get answers regarding the Aurora detention facility. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I am calling for the Committee to hold a needed oversight hearing on the conditions and activities of the GEO Corp regarding this facility and others."

In his first six months in office, Crow has made accountability from ICE a central focus. After receiving multiple reports of substandard living conditions at the facility, Crow visited the facility on February 20 to request a tour and was turned away by ICE. After multiple requests, Crow finally received a tour on March 15, 24 days after his initial request.

Earlier this month, Crow secured an amendment in the Pentagon spending bill that would prohibit defense funding from being used to house children forcibly separated from their parents.