Mediaboss Marketing

5505642

Current and former detainees, including illegal immigrants, are suing the countrys second largest private prison company, allegingthe for-profit institution forced them to work for extremely low wages or nothing at all.

A federal judge ruled Monday that inmates at a detention center in Colorado can participate in a class-action lawsuit against the private corrections company,GEO group. The prison complexholds illegal immigrants slated for deportation.

This is the first lawsuit of its kind in the history of the United States, Andrew Free, one of the plaintiffs attorneys told The Daily Beast. This is the first time that a private prison company has ever been accused of forced labor, and this is the first time that a judge has ever found that the claims can go forward under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the bans in federal law on forced labor.

Judge John Kane assigned theattorneys to legally represent all detainees held at the Aurora, Colo. center since Oct. 22, 2004, which could equal nearly 60,000 people, according to The Daily Beast.

Illegal immigrant detainees said if they refused to work, they would be threatened with solitary confinement.

GEOs Aurora facility is being run on the backs of detainees, with GEOs profits flowing from abusing this cheap detainee labor, Alexander Hood told The Daily Beast.

But GEO Group refutes theseaccusations, saying they comply with the law.

The volunteer work program at immigration facilities as well as the wage rates and standards associated with the program are set by the Federal government, said Pablo Paez, a spokesperson for the company, according toThe Daily Beast. Our facilities, including the Aurora, Colo. Facility, are highly rated and provide high-quality services in safe, secure, and humane residential environments pursuant to the Federal Governments national standards.

The judges decision to permit the lawsuit could have implications for the Trump administrations immigration enforcement strategy. Approximately 65 percent of Department of Homeland Security detainees were held in privately run facilities, according to USA Today. And if more lawsuits in the future are authorized based on precedent, then immigrant detention could potentially require more funding, whether privately or publicly.

GEO Group has a history with President Donald Trump, having donated $250,000 for his inauguration ceremony, according to USA Today. (RELATED: Zuckerberg-Led Immigration Group Opposed Trump, Then Gave Him $5,000)

Follow Eric on Twitter

Send tips to [emailprotected].

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [emailprotected].

Read more here:
Illegal Immigrants Sue Private Prison For 'Forced Labor' | The Daily ... - Daily Caller