Supreme Court Rules Against Private Prison Firm GEO Group

Unanimous decision denies GEO Group's bid for quick appeal in lawsuit alleging forced labor of immigration detainees

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Supreme Court ruled unanimously against private prison company GEO Group, denying its request to quickly appeal a lower court ruling that allowed a lawsuit alleging forced labor of immigration detainees to proceed. The lawsuit, filed in 2014, accuses GEO of forcing detainees at its Aurora, Colorado facility to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for little pay. GEO argued it should be immune from the lawsuit as a government contractor, but the Court rejected that claim, saying the company must wait until a final ruling before appealing.

Why it matters

The ruling is significant for government contractors, as it means they can no longer quickly appeal lower court decisions denying them immunity. This could open the door for more lawsuits against private prison companies like GEO Group, which operates dozens of immigration detention centers across the country and has faced similar allegations of forced labor elsewhere.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in 2014 on behalf of immigration detainees at GEO Group's facility in Aurora, Colorado. The detainees allege they were forced to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for just $1 per day 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 lower court judge disagreed, and GEO asked the Supreme Court to allow a quick appeal of that ruling. The Supreme Court unanimously rejected GEO's request, saying the company must wait until a final ruling before appealing.

  • The lawsuit was filed in 2014.
  • The Supreme Court ruled on the case on February 26, 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 has faced similar lawsuits alleging forced labor of immigration detainees at other facilities.

Jennifer Bennett

An attorney who argued for the Colorado detainees in the lawsuit against GEO Group.

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What they’re saying

“The Supreme Court's unanimous decision reaffirms a straightforward rule: government contractors like GEO do not qualify for sovereign immunity and must follow the same 'one case, one appeal' principle that governs every other litigant.”

— Jennifer Bennett, Attorney for Colorado detainees

What’s next

The case will now proceed in the lower courts, where the detainees will have the opportunity to prove their allegations of forced labor against GEO Group.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant setback for private prison companies like GEO Group, which have increasingly relied on claims of government contractor immunity to avoid lawsuits. The decision opens the door for more legal challenges to the practices at private detention facilities, potentially leading to greater accountability for alleged abuses of detainees.