Supreme Court Rules Against Private Prison Firm in Forced-Work Lawsuit

GEO Group faces allegations of forcing immigration detainees to work for $1 per day in Colorado

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Supreme Court has ruled against the private prison company GEO Group in a lawsuit alleging that immigration detainees were forced to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for little pay at a facility in Aurora, Colorado. The ruling is a procedural defeat for GEO, which had argued it should be immune from the lawsuit as a government contractor.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigration detainees in private prisons, with similar lawsuits brought against GEO Group in other states. The Supreme Court's decision means the lawsuit against GEO Group can proceed, potentially setting an important precedent for how private prison companies are held accountable for their practices.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in 2014 and alleges that detainees at GEO Group's Aurora, Colorado facility were forced to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for only $1 per day. GEO Group argued it should be immune from the lawsuit as a government contractor, but the Supreme Court unanimously rejected that claim, allowing the case to move forward.

  • The lawsuit was filed in 2014.
  • The Supreme Court ruled against GEO Group on February 25, 2026.

The players

GEO Group

One of the top private detention providers in the country, with management or ownership of about 77,000 beds at 98 facilities. It is facing the lawsuit over its practices at a facility in Aurora, Colorado.

Ras Baraka

The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, who was arrested at a protest against a new federal immigration detention center operated by GEO Group, before the charges against him were dropped.

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What’s next

The lawsuit against GEO Group will now proceed in the lower courts, with the potential for further appeals and a final ruling on the merits of the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny and legal challenges facing private prison companies like GEO Group over their treatment of immigration detainees. The Supreme Court's decision allows the lawsuit to move forward, potentially setting an important precedent for how these companies are held accountable.