Colorado Attorney General Sues GEO Group Over Tuberculosis Investigation

• Colorado sued GEO Group over refusal to cooperate with tuberculosis investigation at immigrant detention facility.
• At least 12 detainees contracted tuberculosis by mid-July, posing a public health emergency.
• GEO Group's lack of cooperation has hindered the state's ability to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
• The lawsuit may set a precedent for government agencies to hold private prison operators accountable for public health risks.

A suspected tuberculosis outbreak at an immigrant detention facility in Aurora, Colorado, has been ongoing since June, with health officials unable to investigate due to GEO Group's refusal to comply. The first case was reported on June 11, and by mid-July, at least 12 detainees had contracted the disease. Despite assurances from GEO Group that the detainee had been isolated, the company refused to provide medical information or details about potential contacts. This lack of cooperation has hindered the state's ability to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread to staff and the community.

The situation took a concerning turn when reports emerged that the ill detainee was transferred to a Texas detention center for deportation. Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser called this development 'pressing,' emphasizing that it only adds to the urgency of obtaining information from the facility.

Colorado law tasks the Department of Public Health and Environment with investigating and controlling communicable diseases, including tuberculosis. In 2019, the department successfully contained a mumps outbreak at the same immigrant detention center, uncovering several cases of chickenpox in the process. However, this time around, GEO Group's refusal to cooperate has hindered the investigation. The state is now suing the company to force compliance with an order to investigate the tuberculosis outbreak.

The lawsuit highlights the risks posed by detention facilities, where people live in close proximity, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks. Colorado health officials worry not only about the disease spreading among inmates but also being passed onto staff and the community at large.

Colorado's lawsuit against GEO Group may set a precedent for government agencies to hold private prison operators accountable for public health risks. The case has significant implications for the industry, potentially leading to increased scrutiny and compliance requirements. As Weiser noted in the complaint, 'Even if true' that the ill detainee was transferred, 'this does not end the public health emergency.' The need for transparency and cooperation from private prison operators is more pressing than ever, especially given the high risk of outbreaks in detention facilities.

Colorado's lawsuit against GEO Group may set a precedent for government agencies to hold private prison operators accountable for public health risks, potentially leading to increased scrutiny and compliance requirements for the industry.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News Service