The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against GEO Group on Wednesday in a legal dispute related to an immigration detention center in Colorado. The unanimous decision represents a procedural setback for the company, although it does not constitute a final ruling on the merits of the case.
The litigation stems from a 2014 lawsuit filed by former
detainees of the center located in Aurora. The lawsuit accuses the company of
forcing people in immigration custody to perform cleaning and other tasks
within the facility without pay or for as little as one dollar a day.
According to the plaintiffs, the work included activities
essential to the daily operation of the center, such as maintaining common
areas. They also maintain that some detainees accepted paid tasks under this
scheme due to the need to supplement their food and basic necessities, which
they considered insufficient.
GEO Group has rejected the allegations and argued in court
that its labor programs comply with federal regulations applicable to
immigration detention centers. The company sought to have the Supreme Court
dismiss the lawsuit on legal issues related to jurisdiction and the
applicability of certain state laws.
With its decision, the Supreme Court allows the case to
proceed in lower courts, where the substantive arguments will be examined and
liability determined. The ruling does not resolve whether or not forced labor
occurred, but it keeps the path open for the case to move forward.
The controversy is part of a broader debate about conditions
in detention centers operated by private companies and the use of labor
programs within these facilities. Civil rights organizations have pointed to
the need for greater oversight, while private operators maintain that their
practices comply with current legislation.