ICE Considers Six Colorado Sites For Detention Expansion

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is considering reopening six detention facilities in Colorado, including two in Colorado Springs, as part of a nationwide expansion funded by a $45 billion congressional appropriation signed by President Trump. Potential sites include the former Cheyenne Mountain Center and the Parkmoor Village Healthcare Center in Colorado Springs, as well as the Huerfano County Correctional Center in Walsenburg, which could help local economies through infrastructure use and fees. These facilities, mostly privately owned and currently non-operational, would increase ICE's capacity to detain immigrants amid a broader push to enforce stricter immigration policies. Local officials, such as the El Paso County Commissioners and Walsenburg's mayor, have expressed support for the expansion, citing public safety and economic benefits. Meanwhile, the ACLU has criticized the move, warning that expanding detention centers will subject immigrants to dangerous and inhumane conditions. ICE has not provided comments on these proposals, while private prison companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group are involved in managing or planning these sites.