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 unanimously against the private prison company GEO Group, which was facing a lawsuit alleging that immigration detainees at its facility in Aurora, Colorado, were forced to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for meager pay of just $1 per day. 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, which have faced numerous lawsuits and allegations of substandard conditions and exploitative labor practices. The Supreme Court's decision allows the lawsuit against GEO to move forward, potentially setting an important legal precedent.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in 2014 and alleges that detainees at GEO's Aurora facility were forced to perform unpaid work to supplement meager meals. GEO defended its practices and argued the case should be dismissed because it is immune from lawsuits as a government contractor. However, a judge disagreed, and GEO appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking a quick resolution. The Supreme Court has now unanimously rejected GEO's request, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.

  • The lawsuit was filed in 2014.
  • The Supreme Court ruled against GEO 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 alleged forced labor practices at its immigration detention center 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 case against him was dropped.

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What’s next

The lawsuit against GEO Group will now proceed in the lower courts, where the company will have to defend its labor practices at the Aurora detention facility.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny and legal challenges facing private prison companies like GEO Group, which have been accused of exploiting immigration detainees and providing substandard conditions. The Supreme Court's decision allows the lawsuit to move forward, potentially setting an important precedent on the rights of detainees in private detention facilities.