ICE Facility Worker Shoots Protester Outside Colorado Detention Center

What if you or someone you know is detained at the Aurora ICE Processing Center right now — is it safe? That question became urgent on Thursday evening when Brandon Booth, 42, an off-duty employee of Geo Group (the private company that runs the facility), shot and injured a woman who had been protesting outside the center earlier that day. Aurora police arrested Booth and booked him on probable cause of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, felony menacing, and unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon.

What Happened Outside the Aurora ICE Facility

According to the Aurora Police Department, protesters had blocked the facility entrance that evening. Booth and other employees were waiting in their vehicles to get in. Police say two women approached the cars, had a verbal exchange with employees, and took photos of the vehicles before walking away. Booth then drew a pistol and fired a single shot, striking one woman in her lower body. He drove off. Officers stopped him nearby, seized his car and gun, and made the arrest. The injured woman was taken to a hospital; her injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.

Geo Group confirmed the incident in a statement, saying Booth was placed on unpaid administrative leave and that the company would cooperate with law enforcement. Geo Group is a roughly $4 billion company with multiple long-term contracts with the Department of Homeland Security covering detention facilities, transportation services, and immigrant-tracking programs. In June 2026, former Geo Group executive David Venturella was named acting director of ICE — a connection that immigrant advocates say raises serious questions about oversight. The Aurora facility has faced ongoing complaints: advocates report detainees have been mistreated, given inadequate food, and denied consistent air conditioning. Earlier this week, the facility reported a tuberculosis outbreak affecting at least 12 detainees.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain called the shooting "a tragedy on all fronts" and said his department is committed to "an ethical, thorough, objective, and comprehensive review." He added: "Constitutional rights are a pivotal part of a just society — violence is not." The case is active. Booth's charges are at the probable-cause stage, meaning formal charges have not yet been filed by prosecutors.

What to Do

• If you have a family member detained at the Aurora ICE Processing Center, contact an immigration lawyer immediately to check on their conditions and legal options — the tuberculosis outbreak and reported mistreatment may be grounds for a legal complaint or emergency motion.
• If you plan to protest near any ICE facility, know your rights: you have the right to photograph vehicles and people in public spaces, but stay aware of your surroundings and document everything with a second person present.
• If you witnessed the shooting or have information, Aurora Police are handling the investigation — contact them directly. Your immigration status does not prevent you from reporting a crime or cooperating as a witness.
• If you or a loved one is detained and experiencing medical neglect (including exposure to tuberculosis), lawyers recommend filing a complaint with the DHS Office of Inspector General and requesting emergency medical attention in writing through the facility's grievance process.

A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “Deportation Defense”.