Colorado attorney general sues ​I​CE detention center operator ​i​n tuberculosis ​case

“The GEO Group is endangering Coloradans’ public health by refusing to follow the state health department’s order and by violating Colorado law,” Weiser said in a statement. “This law keeps our residents safe and enables the health department to take necessary measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like tuberculosis.”

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In the lawsuit, filed in state court in Adams County, Weiser asked for emergency injunctive relief.

Health of Colorado priest in ICE custody deteriorating after almost a year in detention

“Despite confirming that a detainee of the facility tested positive for tuberculosis, the GEO Group has prevented CDPHE and local public health agencies from performing any meaningful and statutorily required disease investigation and control,” the lawsuit says. “Instead, the GEO Group asked Colorado to put blind-faith into the facility’s response to the disease. Colorado is therefore flying in the dark when it comes to a contagious and deadly infectious disease within its borders. Just-take-our-word-for-it is not a viable public health response to such a disease. Emergency injunctive relief from this Court is necessary.”

The legal action comes after a nearly two-month standoff between ICE, GEO and public health officials over the tuberculosis case. Colorado law requires a comprehensive investigation into any confirmed cases. In statements, ICE has asserted that one infected person was treated and removed from the country, and that there are no active cases at the facility.

GEO has repeatedly referred requests for comment about the case to ICE. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit.

Also on Wednesday, the Democrats in Colorado’s congressional delegation wrote to GEO CEO George Zoley about their “profound concern with the lack of transparency” at the facility.

“The refusal to cooperate fully with requests from ACHD, CDPHE, and Denver Health belies a history of cooperation in which the facility’s medical team has previously met regularly with ACHD and Denver Health to share relevant epidemiological and medical information, and to coordinate access when needed, in order to investigate specific public health issues,” the six Democrats wrote. “Public health officials need full transparency — not summary statements — to investigate because this threatens the safety of detained individuals, facility staff, and our surrounding community.”

Signers of the letter include Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Reps. Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen.

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