Tuberculosis outbreak at Colorado ICE jail sickens at least 12 detainees
7 reported3 unconfirmed
At least 12 people detained at a federal immigration jail in Colorado have contracted tuberculosis in recent days, according to testimony from inside the facility where dozens of others have reportedly been placed in quarantine. A detainee at the Aurora facility, speaking through his partner, told the Guardian that all 88 people in his pod received testing on Saturday, with 12 positive cases coming back, up from a single case three days earlier. The detainee said guards kept those infected together with those who were not sick, and the entire group was told they must stay in quarantine for at least a week. The air conditioning in the pod broke down on Sunday, and staff distributed electric fans; on Monday afternoon, Aurora was under a heat advisory with the outside air temperature at 96F (36C). Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Geo Group, the private company that operates the Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center, responded to a request for comment or confirmation. The reported infections are the latest in a series of health concerns at the Colorado immigration jail, with another apparent TB outbreak in April last year according to a lawsuit.
What’s reported
At least 12 detainees at an ICE processing center in Aurora, Colorado, have contracted tuberculosis.
The outbreak was reported by a detainee who has been at the facility since December, speaking through his partner.
All 88 people in his pod were tested on Saturday; 12 positive cases came back, up from one case three days earlier.
Guards kept infected and non-infected detainees together, and the entire group was placed in quarantine for at least a week.
The pod’s air conditioning broke down on Sunday; staff distributed electric fans. Aurora was under a heat advisory with a temperature of 96F (36C) on Monday.
Neither DHS nor Geo Group responded to requests for comment.
There was another apparent TB outbreak at the facility in April last year, according to a lawsuit.
Open questions
How many people are incarcerated at the center, which has a published capacity of 1,532.
Whether any other pods of detainees have been tested or returned positive results.
The full extent of the outbreak and the number of detainees receiving medication.
Key figures
A Mexican detainee in his 30s (name withheld for fear of retribution).
The detainee’s long-term partner, a US citizen in south Florida (identity withheld).
Jason Crow, Democratic congressman representing Aurora.
Jennifer Davenport, attorney general of New Jersey.
Sources: The Guardian
