Jury Selection Begins in Lawsuit Over $1 Daily Wage at Colorado ICE Facility

Selection for an advisory jury began Monday in a federal courtroom in Colorado to assist a judge in deciding whether private prison operator GEO Group violated federal forced labor laws. The class action lawsuit involves former immigrant detainees at the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, who allege they were required to work for $1 per day or no pay under threat of solitary confinement.

Lead plaintiff Alejandro Menocal brought the suit more than ten years ago after being held at the facility for three months in the summer of 2014. Together with eight other named plaintiffs, Menocal represents a class of detainees claiming GEO Group was unjustly enriched while violating prohibitions on forced labor under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Forced Labor Claims at the Aurora Detention Facility

Former detainees at the 1,500-bed facility allege they were assigned to clean toilets in the medical wing, strip and wax floors, wash laundry, and perform clerical work. Detainees also prepared and served daily meals for others in the facility, provided barber services, prepped clothing for new arrivals, and cooked for staff at GEO-sponsored events.

When the lawsuit was filed in 2014, GEO Group earned $1.52 billion in revenue. Today, the contractor regularly generates over $2 billion annually. Plaintiffs estimate that at least 300 immigrant detainees are owed more than $5 million due to alleged wage violations.

GEO Group’s Legal Defense and Immunity Claims

GEO Group denies violating the law, maintaining that it followed directions from Congress and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to run a voluntary work program with wages set at no less than $1 per day. The contractor argued that imposing liability would penalize it for adhering to required facility standards and warned that liability could eliminate beneficial detainee work programs. GEO Group also described segregation as standard discipline required to maintain facility safety and order.

Additionally, GEO Group claimed qualified immunity because it was performing a government function. Senior U.S. District Judge John Kane and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals both rejected that argument, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined review in February. Although GEO Group filed a new appeal on October 23, the trial court allowed jury selection to proceed.

Broader Litigation Surrounding the Colorado Facility

The trial unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of immigrant detention conditions and ongoing legal disputes involving the Aurora facility. The Colorado Department of Public Health sued the center to investigate reports of a tuberculosis outbreak in June. Meanwhile, GEO Group sued the state of Colorado this year to block expanded inspection laws passed by state legislators. Additionally, a GEO employee faces criminal charges after allegedly opening fire on a protester in July.

What This Trial Means for Detainees and Former Workers

This case establishes important legal scrutiny regarding how private government contractors pay and treat detained individuals. While the lawsuit directly affects those held at the Aurora facility, it could influence future cases involving contractor work policies in federal detention centers.

For individuals who were detained at the Aurora facility or similar sites, key steps include:

• Review Membership Eligibility: The current lawsuit covers at least 300 former detainees who worked at the Denver Contract Detention Facility.
• Maintain Records: Keep documentation regarding dates of detention, work assignments, facility logs, or payment records.
• Follow Court Developments: Stay informed about class action rulings, as court decisions may affect back-pay recovery options.

If you or a family member performed mandatory or underpaid work while held in a detention facility, consulting with a qualified labor or immigration attorney can help clarify your legal rights and potential options under federal law.

This article is general information based on Courthouse News Service and court or agency records available at publication time. It is not legal advice; laws and deadlines differ by state and by case. Published November 2, 2026.