by Mountain Action Indivisible
GLENWOOD SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL PLANS TO MAKE A “FINAL DECISION” ON AUGUST 6 REGARDING UNPERMITTED, UNSAFE LOCAL ICE DETENTION FACILITY
Community members urge council to enforce code violations against Florida landlord
Glenwood Springs, CO – Glenwood Springs City Council announced through their attorney that they will issue a “final decision” about the local ICE detention facility at their August 6 meeting.
On April 28, 2026, the Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning Commission voted to revoke the Special Use Permit (SUP) issued for the detention facility in 2004. The P & Z found that ICE had repeatedly violated a specific term of the SUP by holding detainees for longer than 12 hours. That decision became final after neither the landlord (JG Housing Solutions, LLC) nor the tenant appealed.
Over the past three months, the City of Glenwood Springs (COGS) has done nothing to enforce this final decision. COGS is demonstrating discriminatory enforcement of their own code. Every day the detention facility operates without a permit is a new and continuing violation of law.
No public record exists demonstrating that the facility meets safety standards under the International Building Code, as adopted in the Glenwood Springs Municipal Code. These standards ensure the safety of people locked in cells who cannot evacuate themselves. Given ongoing wildfire danger, allowing this unpermitted facility to continue operating puts the lives of our neighbors at grave risk.
Concerned community members are urging City Council Members to enforce their own codes and stop the continued operation of this unpermitted and unsafe detention facility in the city limits.
What: Glenwood Springs City Council to make a “final decision” re: local ICE facility
Who: Mountain Action Indivisible, MAI Immigrant Solidarity Group, concerned community members
When: Thursday, August 6 at 6:15 pm
Where: Glenwood Springs City Hall, 101 West 8th Street
More Info and Sources:
Glenwood Springs City Council Says It Will Issue a “Final Decision” On the ICE Facility on August 6
Attend the Meeting and Ensure Your Voice is Heard!
Thursday, August 6 at 6:15 pm
Glenwood Springs City Hall, 101 West 8th Street
Pressure City Council Members to stop the continued operation of an unauthorized, unpermitted, unsafe detention facility in the city limits.
Key Points:
- P & Z’s April 28, 2026 decision to revoke the Special Use Permit for the ICE facility is final. Neither the landlord nor the tenant has appealed the decision.
- Every day the facility operates is a new and continuing violation of law.
- By doing nothing, the City of Glenwood Springs (COGS) is demonstrating discriminatory enforcement of their own codes and allowing the unauthorized operation of a detention facility in Glenwood Springs.
- There is also no evidence in the public record that the facility has ever met safety standards under the International Building Code. These standards are meant to ensure the safety of detained people who cannot evacuate themselves. With the ongoing wildfire danger, allowing this unpermitted facility to continue operating puts the lives of our neighbors at grave risk.
Background:
ICE operates a detention facility in the Midland Center in Glenwood Springs. The leased unit is owned by Florida-based private landlord JG Housing Solutions, LLC.
On April 28, 2026, the Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning Commission held a hearing to consider whether to revoke ICE’s Special Use Permit (SUP) issued in 2004. Investigations by citizens and the media revealed that ICE had repeatedly violated the conditions of its SUP by holding people in detention for longer than 12 hours in cells not equipped for use beyond that time.
More than 150 concerned community members showed up to the hearing holding signs opposing the ICE facility. Over 25 people spoke in favor of revoking the permit. No one spoke in support of upholding the permit.
JG Housing Solutions and ICE did not respond to a Notice of Violation sent to both parties nor did they show up at the hearing to defend their actions. The P&Z voted 5 to 1 to revoke the SUP, removing any legal authority to use the premises as a detention facility.
JG Housing Solutions and ICE had the right to appeal the P&Z decision by May 5. Neither did so. The revocation is final and uncontested.
Since the April 28, 2026 hearing, COGS has done nothing to enforce the P&Z decision, allowing ICE to operate an unpermitted detention facility. When a concerned citizen asked about this at a City Council meeting, the City Attorney said they weren’t going to do anything because it would be futile due to the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
This is unacceptable. The Supremacy Clause protects property the government owns. This property is owned by a private landlord who rents space to a federal agency. COGS Municipal Code gives the city enforcement authority for code or permit violations against the “owner, tenant or occupant of any building.” Therefore, COGS can and should direct enforcement against JG Housing Solutions LLC, a private landlord.
At their July 2 meeting COGS announced that the permit revocation for the ICE facility will be back before the City Council on August 6 for a “final decision.” This is also unacceptable. Why is COGS issuing a “final decision” on a matter that has already been decided? The decision became final when JG Housing Solutions and ICE did not appeal. COGS’ only duty now is to enforce that decision.
Community members have also pointed out repeatedly that there is no evidence in the public record that the facility has ever met safety standards under the International Building Code, as adopted by the City. (See MAI Summary: ICE Facility Next Steps – June 2026)
We deserve answers:
- Will COGS respect the decision of its own P&Z and enforce the unappealed decision against JG Housing Solutions, as it would against any other owner of property where an unpermitted use is continuing?
- How does the City typically respond to an unauthorized land use within its boundaries?
- COGS has numerous potential remedies against JG Housing Solutions, including serving it with a Cease and Desist for unauthorized use violations, and fines of $1,000 per day for non-compliance. Does COGS plan to pursue any of these remedies?
- Why has COGS not responded to community concerns about life safety violations under the International Building Code, especially during these times of extreme fire danger?
Take Action
- Attend the COGS City Council meeting on Thursday, August 6, at 6:15 pm Glenwood Springs City Hall, 101 West 8th Street. Consider preparing some public comments to share (three minutes max).
- Email your concerns to Glenwood Springs City Council Members
Find their email addresses here or send an email to citycouncil@cogs.us If you’d like to submit comments to be included in the meeting packet, send an email to ryan.muse@cogs.us by 4:00 pm on August 5 . Please use the subject heading: “Comments for 8/6 Council Meeting.”
- Write a Letter to the Editor
Follow this link for tips, word limits and submission links for our local papers.
Resources
Documents and Community Response Deep Dives: Community Defense Alert | Linktree
Colorado Times Recorder: Secret ICE Detention Facilities Exist Around Colorado
Colorado Newsline: Colorado Democrats question ICE director
Post Independent: Glenwood Springs P & Z revoked ICE facility permit
Sopris Sun: ICE detention follow-up
Sopris Sun: Glenwood Report July 8 (see the last paragraph)
9News: Nonprofit, Hudson resident sue town over ICE detention center zoning
“A lawsuit…accuses the town of Hudson of failing to enforce its own zoning code against a planned ICE detention facility, arguing the town has a legal obligation to require the same review process it would apply to any other project.”
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The Revolutionist 