AFSC Applauds Defeat of Company’s $40 Million Bid to Shelter Migrants in Colorado

In response to the American Friends Service Committee’s (AFSC) research and organizing, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced that he would withdraw the City of Denver’s proposed $40 million contract with GardaWorld for sheltering migrants. This victory demonstrates how research and community organizing, strong partnerships, and relationships can defeat the efforts of a multinational corporation with a questionable record.

“We welcome Mayor Hancock’s action and share the mayor’s sentiment that we must design a more sustainable effort in our city. We recognize that this delay has a cost for city workers and departments who have acted admirably over many months and to all the nonprofits who look forward to a stable system in which to deliver services. However, the original RFP was written at a different moment – just two months into our efforts – a moment where Denver sheltered thousands of individuals daily at three rec centers,” said Jennifer Piper, AFSC’s Interim Associate Regional Director, West Region. “We need a new proposal that recognizes this moment – where shelter residents fluctuate between 500 and 800 – and accepts a new normal of welcoming newcomers to Denver while building on our successes as a city and as nonprofits.”

We need a new proposal that recognizes this moment – where shelter residents fluctuate between 500 and 800 – and accepts a new normal of welcoming newcomers to Denver while building on our successes as a city and as nonprofits.”
Jennifer Piper, AFSC

AFSC’s Economic Activism researchers provided critical and timely research demonstrating that GardaWorld is the wrong partner. The corporation misled the city about its experience and operations as well as its mission. The research revealed documentation of inhumane conditions and a death in their Canadian detention facilities. It also uncovered a Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General investigation into and report on inhumane conditions at Fort Bliss, a “tent city” facility for unaccompanied minors near El Paso, Texas, where the company is a contractor.

In line with the findings of the research, in a meeting on July 5, GardaWorld admitted in front of the City and County of Denver and local nonprofits that it has not run any sheltering and claimed that its involvement at Fort Bliss was only limited to providing medical and transportation care. In addition, GardaWorld’s overseas security operations have been implicated in human trafficking, corruption, illegal weapons use, and excessive force, and have been the subject of numerous whistleblower reports and lawsuits.

“After July 17, a new administration and a partially new council will determine the direction sheltering newcomers will go. We call on Mayor-elect Johnston to involve nonprofits and community groups in a process to evaluate and draw from all we have learned the last seven months and build a sustainable, dignity focused system to welcome newcomers. The new Administration must also take bold, decisive action to create opportunities for affordable housing for all Denverites,” said Piper.