In the News

DENVER, Colorado — A recent article published by the Colorado Times Recorder shares that federal immigration authorities have been using United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facilities throughout the state. Their investigation uncovered nine, prompting calls from the state's Democratic congressional delegation for answers. ICE is categorically denying that the holding facilities are "secret." 

Columnist Logan M. Davis reported that in addition to the GEO Group holding facility in Aurora, where ICE detentions are publicly known, federal data reveals detainees were held in ICE sub-offices located in strip malls and business parks throughout the state.

"There are at least nine other facilities around the state in ICE sub-offices, in strip malls, in business parks, where people are also being held," Davis said.

The data, obtained through Freedom of Information Act litigation by the Deportation Data Project, originated from the Department of Homeland Security and includes check-in and check-out times, birth years and nationalities for each facility. According to Davis, more than 2,800 people were held across nine facilities between January and October 2024 alone.

ICE policy limits detention in hold rooms to 72 hours — a standard extended from 12 hours by a memo issued June 24, 2025. Despite that policy, the data shows some people were held for weeks. Davis reported that one man was held in a Colorado hold room for 39 days.

"One of the most concerning things we found was that there is this culture, seemingly, around these facilities of complete disregard for ICE's own internal rules," Davis said.

Davis visited several of the locations and found no external signage identifying them as detention facilities. The Colorado Springs location, he said, had no external or internal signage indicating a Homeland Security presence. A facility in Frederick was located in a strip mall that also houses a hospice.

The current address on file for the Denver hold room — which held more than 1,300 people last year — leads to a furniture store in Montbello. Davis said the actual current location of the Denver hold room is unknown.

Colorado's Democratic congressional delegation has responded. Rep. Joe Neguse traveled to 100 Midland Ave. in Glenwood Springs to attempt an oversight inspection of one of the reported facilities. No agency personnel responded when he arrived.

"It's raised far more questions than answers, and we intend to get to the bottom of it," Neguse said in a video recorded after the attempted visit.

Neguse joined Colorado's Democratic congressional delegation in sending a letter to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about the holding cells.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen announced she is leading the Colorado Democratic delegation in demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security.

"Holding vulnerable people in small rooms without proper facilities for days or weeks is unacceptable and inhumane," Pettersen wrote on X. "DHS must immediately explain how this happened and what steps are being taken to ensure basic standards of care are upheld."

ICE responded to Pettersen's statements, saying the locations are not secret. "These are not 'secret' holding rooms — they are sub-offices within the field office where ICE personnel are assigned, conduct operations, and process arrests," the agency said in response on X, adding that most offices have been open and operating for more than 15 years. 

"These locations are not 'hidden' or 'black sites,' they are ICE suboffices located throughout Colorado and the country," an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to 9NEWS. "Many of the offices have holding cells which conform to all national detention standards and are inspected regularly, they are akin to a sheriff’s office or police department suboffice."