This guide is for people detained by ICE in Colorado and for their families. Colorado has one primary long-term ICE detention facility: the Aurora Contract Detention Facility (also called the Denver Contract Detention Facility), operated by the private prison company GEO Group in Aurora. Its capacity was expanded from 1,360 to 1,530 beds in late 2025. ICE enforcement in Colorado increased dramatically in 2025 - approximately 4,750 people were arrested by federal immigration authorities in Colorado in 2025, nearly four times the prior year's rate. The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) provides free legal services on site at the Aurora facility every day. The Immigrant Freedom Fund posts immigration bonds for detained people in Colorado. Casa de Paz provides support and transitional housing for people released from the facility. Last verified: June 2026.
Step 1: Find Your Family Member - Right Now
ICE Online Detainee Locator: locator.ice.gov
You need: the person's full legal name, date of birth, and country of birth - OR their A-Number (Alien Registration Number, found on any immigration paperwork). The locator shows people currently in ICE custody and those released within the last 60 days. New detainees do not always appear immediately - check daily if needed.
ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line: 1-888-351-4024 (toll-free)
EOIR Immigration Court Case Status: 1-800-898-7180
ICE Denver Field Office: Denver.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (303) 361-0723
Aurora facility detainee inquiries: (303) 361-6612, between 8 AM and 4 PM
RMIAN Family Hotline (advocacy, not legal advice): (303) 866-9308 - RMIAN works directly with the Aurora facility and can sometimes help confirm whether someone has been booked, especially if they do not yet appear in the locator.
Colorado Rapid Response Network: 1-844-864-8341 (24 hours, bilingual) - for immediate ICE enforcement situations in the community.
Casa de Paz: (303) 587-2589 - can sometimes help confirm custody status and provides support information for families.
Important: ICE transfers detainees out of state. Someone arrested in Colorado on Monday may be in a Texas, New Mexico, or Louisiana facility by Wednesday. If the locator shows nothing after 48 hours, call RMIAN or the Colorado Rapid Response Network - they have working relationships with the Aurora facility and can sometimes confirm custody faster than the online system updates.
Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held in Colorado
Aurora Contract Detention Facility - Primary Facility
3130 North Oakland Street, Aurora, CO 80010
Detainee inquiries: (303) 361-6612 (8 AM-4 PM)
Urgent messages: (303) 361-6612
ICE case information email: Denver.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Attorney virtual visits: auroravav@geogroup.com
Operated by: GEO Group under contract with ICE
Capacity: 1,530 beds (expanded from 1,360 in late 2025)
The Aurora facility is the only major long-term ICE detention center in Colorado. It has operated since 1987 and is located just south of I-70 in Aurora. In 2025, more than 13,000 individual stays were recorded at the facility. The immigration court for detainees at Aurora - the Aurora Immigration Court - is located at or near the facility.
A coalition of advocacy organizations released a report in March 2026 documenting conditions based on testimony from 31 detainees. Concerns documented included inadequate medical treatment, poor nutrition requiring $80-$100 per week in commissary spending to supplement facility meals, extreme temperatures, abusive guard behavior, and a voluntary work program paying $1 per day. GEO Group disputed the allegations. Families should maintain regular contact with detained family members and contact RMIAN immediately if medical or safety concerns arise.
Hold Rooms Across Colorado - Short-Term Holding
In addition to the Aurora facility, ICE operates a network of undisclosed hold rooms across Colorado, primarily in ICE field offices and sub-offices. These hold people for short periods - typically hours to a few days - before transfer to Aurora or out of state. Data from 2025 identified hold rooms in:
Frederick (FRDHOLD): 3770 Puritan Way, Frederick, CO - the second-busiest hold room in the state in 2025, holding 526 people between January and October.
Grand Junction (GJCHOLD): the busiest hold room outside the Front Range, holding 213 people January-October 2025; most were subsequently transferred to Aurora.
Glenwood Springs (GSCHOLD): 100 Midland Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO - 73 detainees January-October 2025; 45% had no criminal record.
Denver (DENHOLD) and Pueblo (PUEHOLD): additional hold locations identified in federal data.
These hold rooms are not publicly listed as ICE detention facilities but function as short-term holding points. If a family member was arrested and cannot be located in the Aurora facility or through the ICE locator within 24-48 hours, they may still be in one of these hold rooms. Call RMIAN or the Colorado Rapid Response Network for help locating someone in the early hours after an arrest.
Planned Expansion - Verify Current Status
As of mid-2025, ICE planning documents indicated plans to open additional facilities in Colorado at Walsenburg (former Huerfano County Correctional Center, owned by CoreCivic), Hudson (former GEO facility, closed 2014), and Ignacio. These would add approximately 2,560 beds to Colorado's detention capacity. Verify current status of these facilities at ice.gov or with RMIAN, as the expansion timeline was described as planned but not confirmed as of June 2026.
Step 3: Get Legal Help - RMIAN Is On Site Every Day
The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) is Colorado's primary free legal service organization for immigration detainees, and the most important resource in this guide. RMIAN staff are physically present at the Aurora detention facility every day providing Know Your Rights orientations, individual consultations, and pro se workshops for unrepresented detainees.
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN)
rmian.org
Detention hotline: (303) 866-9308
General number: (303) 433-2812
Westminster, CO (offices) - services provided inside the Aurora facility
RMIAN's Detention Program provides: daily Know Your Rights presentations inside the facility for all detainees without attorneys; individual legal consultations; pro se (self-representation) workshops; referral of meritorious cases to pro bono attorneys through RMIAN's volunteer attorney network; social services through RMIAN's Social Service Project.
To request legal orientation services for a detained family member: fill out the request form at rmian.org/detention-program. Services are free; RMIAN cannot guarantee representation for every detainee but works to ensure every person has access to orientation and consultation.
RMIAN also maintains a confidential legal hotline for detained individuals to call directly from inside the facility.
Note on habeas petitions: RMIAN has increasingly filed habeas corpus petitions in federal court to challenge unlawful detention - particularly for people held without bond hearings. If someone has been held for an extended period without a bond hearing, contact RMIAN about this option.
Casa de Paz
casadepazcolorado.org | (303) 587-2589
Casa de Paz provides direct support to detainees and their families - visiting people inside the facility, coordinating support networks, and providing transitional housing and material support for people released from detention. Their FAQ guides cover how to visit, how to deposit money, how to send books, and how to advocate if someone experiences mistreatment. If a family member is released from Aurora, Casa de Paz can help with the transition.
American Friends Service Committee - Colorado (AFSC)
afsc.org - One of the organizations involved in producing the March 2026 conditions report on Aurora; active in advocacy and supporting detainees inside the facility. Part of the Shut Down GEO campaign coalition along with Housekeys Action Network Denver, Casa de Paz, and Aurora Unidos.
Colorado Legal Services (CLS)
coloradolegalservices.org - Statewide legal aid with 13 offices across Colorado. Provides free legal services to low-income Coloradans, including some immigration matters. Contact to determine eligibility.
Colorado Asylum Center (CAC)
Provides assistance to asylum applicants who cannot afford legal representation, including I-589 clinics, appeals clinics, and limited individual representation before immigration court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Tenth Circuit.
University of Denver Immigration Law and Policy Clinic
law.du.edu - DU's immigration law clinic provides representation and mentorship for pro bono attorneys working on detainee cases. Contact RMIAN for referrals through this network.
Catholic Charities of Denver
ccdenver.org/immigration | 6240 Smith Road, Denver, CO 80216 | (303) 742-4971
Provides representation in family reunification, adjustment of status, naturalization, VAWA, and related matters. Low fees vary for certain services.
EOIR Pro Bono List
ICE requires the Aurora facility to post a list of free legal service providers in all housing units, and to allow free calls to those providers. Ask your family member to request the list and to call RMIAN's confidential legal hotline directly.
Immigration Advocates Network
immigrationadvocates.org - National searchable directory; search by Colorado or by Aurora zip code 80010.
Step 4: Bond - How to Get Someone Released
Bond allows a detained person to be released from ICE custody while their immigration case continues in court. Not everyone is eligible - mandatory detention applies in some cases based on criminal history or case type. An immigration judge sets bond at a bond hearing before the Aurora Immigration Court.
Important context for Colorado: The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Colorado, had not ruled as of June 2026 on the Trump administration's policy of denying bond hearings to people arrested in the interior of the country (as opposed to at the border). This legal question was working through the courts nationally and could affect bond eligibility for people detained in Colorado. RMIAN has been filing habeas petitions to challenge extended detention without bond hearings. Ask RMIAN about this if a bond hearing has been denied.
Where to Post Bond in Colorado
Bond cannot be posted directly at the Aurora facility. Immigration bonds for Colorado detainees are posted at the ICE ERO Denver Field Office:
ICE ERO Denver: 12445 East Caley Avenue, Centennial, CO 80111 | (303) 361-0723
Confirm current hours before visiting - typically Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.
Payment: Cash, cashier's check, or money order payable to 'Department of Homeland Security.' For bonds over $10,000, a single cashier's check or certified check is required. Bring the detainee's full name, A-Number, and the bond order from the immigration judge.
A licensed immigration bond agent can post bond electronically for a fee of 2%-20%, which avoids the need to travel to the Denver ERO office.
Bond Fund - Immigrant Freedom Fund (IFF)
Immigrant Freedom Fund
immigrantfreedomfund.org
The Immigrant Freedom Fund is Colorado's dedicated immigration bond fund, specifically serving detainees at the GEO/ICE facility in Aurora. IFF pays immigration bonds for detained people using community contributions. Once a person completes their immigration case, the bond is revolved back to the fund to help others. IFF volunteers also have expertise navigating the bond payment process, which attorneys and families unfamiliar with immigration detention have described as complex and unlike criminal bail. Contact IFF immediately when a bond is set - they can move quickly but may have a waitlist when demand is high.
National Immigrant Bond Fund
immigrantbondfund.org - National fund; posts bond nationally when local funds are unavailable.
Vera Institute - SAFE Network
vera.org - Check for current Colorado availability.
Step 5: Communication - Staying Connected
Visiting in Person
3130 North Oakland Street, Aurora, CO 80010
Visiting days and hours are subject to change on short notice based on population changes and housing movements. Always confirm before traveling. Contact the facility at (303) 361-6612 or check ice.gov for current hours.
Visits are scheduled by housing unit. Ask which unit your family member is in and confirm that unit's specific visiting schedule. Generally: bring a valid government-issued photo ID; expect security screening; children must be accompanied by an adult guardian 18 or older; no cell phones, food, or personal items beyond your ID.
Casa de Paz publishes a detailed FAQ on visiting the Aurora facility - including what to wear, what to bring, and what to expect - at casadepazcolorado.org. Reading this before your first visit is strongly recommended.
Phone Calls
Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. They can make outgoing calls through the facility's contracted phone system. Set up a prepaid account through the phone provider to receive calls without collect charges. Calls are monitored and recorded except for legal calls.
Free legal calls: ICE requires the facility to allow free calls to legal service providers on the posted pro bono list and to consular officials. Ask your family member to request the list and to use RMIAN's confidential legal hotline inside the facility.
Virtual Attorney Visitation
The Aurora facility offers Virtual Attorney Visitation (VAV) for legal representatives. Attorneys schedule VTC meetings by emailing auroravav@geogroup.com at least 24 hours in advance. Sessions are 30-60 minutes, confidential, and available 8 AM-4 PM. Family members cannot use this program - it is for attorneys and legal representatives only.
Mailing address: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Aurora Contract Detention Facility, 3130 North Oakland Street, Aurora, CO 80010
All incoming mail is inspected. Letters, legal documents, approved publications, and books from publishers may be sent. Casa de Paz provides guidance on sending books and approved items - check casadepazcolorado.org.
Sending Money
Money for commissary accounts can be deposited through the facility's contracted phone and financial services provider. Contact the facility at (303) 361-6612 or check with Casa de Paz for the current accepted deposit methods. Advocates note that commissary costs at Aurora are high relative to the $1/day voluntary work program pay - outside financial support is practically necessary for many detainees.
Step 6: Your Rights Inside Detention
ICE detention is civil, not criminal. Being detained by ICE does not mean you have been convicted of a crime. The Aurora facility is required to comply with ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS). The March 2026 advocacy report documented a pattern of alleged violations including medical neglect, malnutrition, extreme temperatures, physical and emotional abuse, and forced labor at $1/day. GEO Group disputed these findings.
If there is a medical emergency or safety concern:
Contact RMIAN at (303) 866-9308 and Casa de Paz at (303) 587-2589 immediately. File a grievance inside the facility. Contact the DHS Inspector General at oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603. Contact the ACLU of Colorado at aclu-co.org if the concern involves abuse, medical neglect, or civil rights violations.
Key rights every detainee has:
The right to speak with an attorney, including free calls to legal service providers on the posted list.
The right to a bond hearing before an immigration judge (unless subject to mandatory detention - see RMIAN about habeas options if bond hearing has been denied).
The right to be free from physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.
The right to access medical and mental health care.
The right to practice your religion.
The right to access a law library and legal materials.
The right to file a grievance if your rights are violated.
The right to communicate with your home country's consulate (free calls to consulates required).
The right to refuse participation in the voluntary work program (the $1/day work program is voluntary, not mandatory).
To file a grievance:
Request a grievance form from facility staff. Contact DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603. Contact RMIAN or AFSC Colorado for support with the process. Casa de Paz also provides information on how to report mistreatment.
Consular access:
Under the Vienna Convention, you have the right to contact your country's consulate. ICE must inform you of this right. Ask staff for the consular contact list. Calls to consulates are free under ICE standards.
Quick Reference - Colorado ICE Detainee Resources
Find a detainee:
ICE Detainee Locator: locator.ice.gov
ICE Detention Reporting Line: 1-888-351-4024
EOIR Case Status: 1-800-898-7180
ICE Denver Field Office: Denver.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (303) 361-0723
Aurora facility detainee line: (303) 361-6612 (8 AM-4 PM)
Primary detention facility:
Aurora Contract Detention Facility - 3130 N. Oakland Street, Aurora, CO 80010 - (303) 361-6612
Free legal help - on site daily:
RMIAN Detention Hotline: (303) 866-9308 | rmian.org/detention-program
Colorado Rapid Response Network: 1-844-864-8341 (24 hours, bilingual)
Family support and release:
Casa de Paz: casadepazcolorado.org | (303) 587-2589
Post bond:
ICE ERO Denver: 12445 E. Caley Avenue, Centennial, CO 80111 | (303) 361-0723
Bond fund:
Immigrant Freedom Fund: immigrantfreedomfund.org
Attorney virtual visits:
auroravav@geogroup.com - 24 hours notice required
Medical emergencies / grievances:
RMIAN: (303) 866-9308
ACLU of Colorado: aclu-co.org
DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603
Sources and verification: Colorado Newsline, 'Aurora ICE Facility Population Near Capacity After Recent Expansion,' January 12, 2026 (capacity expanded 1,360 to 1,530 in late 2025; 1,200 in custody end of September; ICE staff said 'slightly below capacity' January 5; transgender pods consolidated; Hudson planned facility in dormant prison; Rep. Jason Crow denied entry July 2025; lawsuit filed); Colorado Newsline / Denverite, 'Aurora ICE Detainees Are Malnourished and Forced to Work, Advocates Report,' March 2-5, 2026 (coalition report: AFSC, Housekeys Action Network Denver, Casa de Paz, Aurora Unidos; 31 detainee testimonies September 2025-February 2026; medical neglect; malnutrition; $80-$100/week commissary needed; ramen $3+, rice $13, canned chicken $17+; $1/day voluntary work program; GEO Group denial quote Christopher Ferreira); Denver Contract Detention Facility Wikipedia (GEO Group contract 1987; capacity 1,530 after late 2025 expansion; Melvin Ariel Calero Mendoza death 2022 pulmonary embolism; 911 call handling; March 2026 coalition report); ICE Aurora facility page (ice.gov; (303) 361-6612 detainee inquiries; Denver.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; attorney visits 7 days 8 AM-9 PM; auroravav@geogroup.com VAV scheduling; 24-hour notice; (303) 361-0723 Denver Field Office); RMIAN Detention Program page (rmian.org; (303) 866-9308 detention hotline; (303) 433-2812 general; daily KYR presentations; individual consultations; pro bono referrals; social services; confidential hotline inside facility; habeas petitions); RMIAN self-help resources page (Colorado Rapid Response Network 1-844-864-8341; Casa de Paz (303) 587-2589); Colorado Sun, 'It Takes a Village of Colorado Nonprofits to Help ICE Detainees,' May 31, 2026 (V.D. case 14 months; RMIAN; IFF bond expertise; IFF waitlist described; Casa de Paz transitional housing; DU Immigration Law and Policy Clinic; attorney Mario Nicolais); Colorado Times Recorder, 'Exclusive: Secret ICE Detention Facilities Exist Around Colorado,' March 10, 2026 (Frederick FRDHOLD 3770 Puritan Way 526 detainees; Grand Junction GJCHOLD 213 detainees 299 of 311 transferred to Aurora; Glenwood Springs GSCHOLD 100 Midland Avenue 73 detainees 45% no criminal record 17% violent record; Denver DENHOLD; Pueblo PUEHOLD; 13,000+ stays at Aurora January-October 2025); Rocky Mountain PBS, 'Three New ICE Detention Centers Reportedly Planned in Colorado,' August 18, 2025 (Walsenburg CoreCivic, Hudson GEO Group, Ignacio; 2,560 additional beds); RMIAN website ('4,750 people arrested in Colorado in 2025, nearly quadrupling prior year rate'); Immigrant Freedom Fund website (immigrantfreedomfund.org; posts bonds for Aurora detainees; revolving fund; IFF expertise navigating bond payment system); Detention Pipeline, Colorado 2026 entry (state inspection legislation; El Paso County 287(g) 47 transfers; Teller County settled ACLU suit; Voces Unidas 198 detained western Colorado; Tenth Circuit bond hearing question undecided as of June 2, 2026). Volatile items: Verify planned expansion facilities (Walsenburg, Hudson, Ignacio) - described as planned August 2025; verify current operational status at ice.gov; verify Aurora visiting hours before traveling - change on short notice based on housing movements; verify bond posting address at Denver ICE ERO; verify IFF fund availability (described as high demand with waitlist as of May 2026); verify Tenth Circuit bond hearing ruling status (undecided as of June 2, 2026 - could affect bond eligibility for Colorado detainees). Last verified: June 2026.