Denver, CO – July 23, 2026 – Yesterday, Together Colorado and a Weld County resident sued the Town of Hudson, asking a court to order the Town to follow its own Land Development Code before a 1,200-bed immigration detention facility opens within Town limits. Hudson has publicly disclaimed any say over the project, announcing that it “does not have authority to approve or deny federal use of this private facility.” But, according to the lawsuit, the Town has the authority to enforce its generally applicable zoning rules to block the facility’s development, and it has the obligation under state law not to grant any special privileges to ICE or its private contractor, the GEO Group. Plaintiffs are asking the court to order Hudson to require what it would require in any other context: a permit, a public hearing, and a chance for residents to be heard. Together Colorado and the individual plaintiff are represented by the non-profit legal organization Towards Justice.
Community members, immigrant advocates, and faith leaders across the state, including Catholic leaders from the Vatican have been holding vigils, protests, and raising alarm bells with Colorado leadership about the facility for years. Many of these community members joined Together Colorado and the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) last winter and spring to urge the owner of the Hudson prison, real estate investor group Highlands REIT, not to profit off of President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation plans and end its relationship with ICE and GEO Group.
“The lawsuit with the Town of Hudson is about more than one town or one detention center. It is about whether cities across Colorado will have the moral fortitude to resist intimidation by the Trump administration and hold firm to exercising their authority to protect our neighbors,” said Meghan Carrier, Executive Director of Together Colorado. “Together Colorado and our allies call on the Town of Hudson to not abdicate their power and to stand with their community. As people of faith and moral conscience, we choose compassion over fear and belonging over division. We believe another future is possible, and we’re organizing together to build it.”
This moment points to how critical it will be for the city of Hudson to prevent the devastating impacts of opening the detention facility still to come.
“As a Catholic, I cannot remain silent in the face of this inhumane persecution of immigrants. My faith calls me to defend the dignity of every person without exception.” said Monsignor Jorge de los Santos at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Commerce City, CO.
“This a moment for Coloradans of faith and of goodwill to demonstrate an unwavering moral clarity for our state and our wider society. ICE detention facilities have proven time and time again to be sites of human rights atrocities and constitutional violations. This one will be no exception. As a faith leader and a resident of Weld County, I am outraged at the prospect of the federal government having a foothold to perpetrate injustices against my neighbors who I am called by Christ to love. I must speak up against this facility opening, and encourage the Town of Hudson to as well.” Rev. Ben Konecny at First Congregational Church in Greeley, CO.
“This case is about a basic proposition: Colorado and its cities and towns are not powerless. Hudson is not a bystander. The Town has the authority and the obligation to act,” said David Seligman, Executive Director of Towards Justice and an attorney on the case. “The Town is being told to hand over the keys and ask no questions. But Hudson’s obligation runs to the people, not to a billion-dollar prison company and its out-of-state landlord.”
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Together Colorado is a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-religious community organization that works to place human dignity at the center of public life in Colorado. Together Colorado leaders organize to create a society in which everyone can thrive, without exception.
Towards Justice is a non-profit legal organization that uses impact litigation and policy advocacy to support working families in taking on corporate abuse and advancing economic and racial justice.
Contact: Thomas Weiler, 720-672-1728, [email protected]