Jury selection begins in forced labor lawsuit against GEO Group
Jury selection started Nov. 2 in a forced labor class-action suit against GEO Group.
Why it matters: This lawsuit tests corporate liability for human rights abuses in private immigration detention. It signals increased scrutiny on labor conditions in ICE facilities operated by contractors.
- Jury selection began November 2, 2026, in the forced labor class-action lawsuit against The GEO Group.
- Allegations claim detainees at the Denver Contract Detention Facility were forced to work for $1 per day from 2004 to 2014, under threat of solitary confinement.
- The GEO Group operates the Denver facility under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- The U.S. Supreme Court denied GEO’s request for an immediate appeal in February 2026, and the Tenth Circuit rejected its motion to pause the trial in October 2026.
Jury selection commenced on November 2, 2026, in a federal lawsuit accusing The GEO Group of forced labor at its Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado. The facility operates under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The plaintiffs, detainees held between 2004 and 2014, allege they were compelled to work for $1 per day to maintain the facility, under threat of solitary confinement. The suit alleges this practice violates federal laws prohibiting forced labor. Legal experts note this case raises significant questions about the accountability of private contractors in immigration detention settings.
The legal journey includes a February 2026 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied GEO’s request to immediately appeal a lower court’s ruling allowing the class-action suit to move forward. Later, on October 29, 2026, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals denied GEO’s motion to stay the trial.
During recent proceedings, U.S. District Judge John L. Kane rejected GEO’s attempt to claim qualified immunity, stating in court records that such claims appeared intended to delay the trial: "GEO is not entitled to qualified immunity," he said, according to court documents (available via PACER).
The trial’s outcome could have far-reaching implications for corporate liability in immigration detention and detainee labor practices, affecting how government agencies engage contractors moving forward.
By the numbers:
- 2026 — Year jury selection begins in the forced labor trial against GEO Group
- 2004-2014 — Period detainees were allegedly forced to work at $1/day
- October 29, 2026 — Date Tenth Circuit rejected GEO’s request to pause the trial
Yes, but: GEO Group maintains it acted within legal boundaries and denies the forced labor allegations, emphasizing compliance with contractual and legal obligations.
What's next: Trial proceedings will continue in Denver federal court through late 2026, including testimony from former detainees and GEO representatives.