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ICE Has a Loved One in Aurora, or a Denver Court Date Is Looming, and the Clock Is Already Running

If someone you love was just detained by ICE at the Aurora facility, or you've been handed a hearing notice for Denver immigration court, you do not have time to waste on a web form. Immigration is federal law, decided by federal judges, and the deadlines are brutal and unforgiving. Call us free, 24 hours a day, in English or Spanish. An AI assistant trained on federal immigration law and Colorado's protections will explain exactly where you stand and what move to make first. This is legal information, not legal advice, and it creates no attorney-client relationship.

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Immigration Law in Colorado — what to do right now

Find out which of Colorado's two immigration courts your case is in, because it changes everything. If the person is locked up, their case is at the Aurora Immigration Court inside the GEO-run detention center at 3130 N. Oakland St., Aurora, and it moves fast. If they're free and waiting on a hearing, it's the Denver non-detained court at 1961 Stout St. Do not miss a single hearing: missing one triggers an in-absentia removal order. Write down the A-number (the 'Alien Registration Number,' usually nine digits, on any ICE or court paperwork), then call us free at 1-844-690-0555 and we'll walk you through the next step.


The law in Colorado: Immigration Law

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Key Federal Statutes

  • INA section 208 / 8 U.S.C. 1158 - asylum, with the one-year filing deadline
  • INA section 240 / 8 U.S.C. 1229a - removal (deportation) proceedings
  • INA section 240A / 8 U.S.C. 1229b - cancellation of removal
  • INA section 245 / 8 U.S.C. 1255 - adjustment of status (green card from inside the U.S.)
  • 8 C.F.R. 1003.38 - 30-day deadline to appeal an immigration judge's decision to the BIA

Courts & Agencies

  • Aurora Immigration Court (detained) - 3130 N. Oakland St., Aurora, inside the GEO-run detention facility
  • Denver Immigration Court (non-detained) - 1961 Stout St., Suite 3101, Denver
  • Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) - federal appellate body, Falls Church, VA
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (Denver) - reviews final BIA orders
  • USCIS Centennial field office; ICE ERO Denver field office; Aurora Contract Detention Facility (GEO Group)

Colorado Protections & Deadlines

  • SB 25-276 (signed May 23, 2025) - limits ICE data-sharing and non-public-area access without a judicial warrant; civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation
  • HB 19-1124 / SB 21-131 - no detainer holds or ICE data-sharing absent a judicial warrant
  • HB 21-1194 - Colorado's publicly funded Immigrant Legal Defense Fund (an early national model)
  • Asylum: file within 1 year of last arrival; general motion to reopen: 90 days from final order
  • In-absentia removal: motion to reopen within 180 days for 'exceptional circumstances' (no time limit for lack of notice)

Where They're Held Decides Everything: Aurora vs. Denver

Most people don't realize Colorado has two immigration courts that run on opposite clocks. The Aurora Immigration Court sits literally inside the GEO Group's Denver Contract Detention Facility on N. Oakland Street, hears detained cases by video, and moves shockingly fast, while certain criminal grounds mean no bond hearing at all. The Denver court on Stout Street handles people who are free, on a slower docket. Families lose precious days simply not knowing which court has their loved one, or that Colorado funds free deportation defense through HB 21-1194's Immigrant Legal Defense Fund. Before you guess, call us free at 1-844-690-0555. We'll help you find the case and the deadline. Legal information, not legal advice.


Likely outcomes & penalties

Immigration outcomes are federal and fact-specific, but these are the realistic ranges Coloradans face. Knowing which one is on the table changes what you do today.
Final order of removal
Deportation to the country of origin, frequently paired with a bar on returning of 5, 10, or 20 years, and a permanent bar for some aggravated felonies or illegal reentry under INA section 212(a)(9).
In-absentia removal
Miss one hearing in Denver or Aurora and the judge can order removal in your absence. Reopening is limited to a 180-day window for 'exceptional circumstances,' with no time limit only if you never got proper notice or were in custody through no fault of your own.
Relief granted
Asylum, cancellation of removal, or adjustment of status can let someone stay and put them on a path to a green card, but each has narrow eligibility and unforgiving filing rules.
Detention without bond
Under mandatory detention (INA section 236(c)), some people are held at the Aurora facility with no bond hearing for the length of the case, which can run many months.

Mistakes to avoid

⚠️
Missing a single hearing in Denver or Aurora immigration court, which lets the judge enter an in-absentia removal order and slams most doors behind you.
⚠️
Believing an outdated source that says you have only 10 days to appeal to the BIA; under 8 C.F.R. 1003.38 the BIA must actually receive your appeal within 30 days of the judge's decision, and there is no mailbox rule.
⚠️
Waiting past the one-year asylum deadline under INA section 208, which can bar asylum entirely and leave only the much harder withholding-of-removal or Convention Against Torture standards.
⚠️
Assuming an ICE detainer means Colorado police can legally hold your relative; under HB 19-1124 they generally cannot hold someone past their release without a judicial warrant.
⚠️
Paying a 'notario' or unlicensed consultant who fills out forms wrong, and missing the free deportation-defense help Colorado funds through HB 21-1194 and groups like RMIAN and JAMLAC.

How it works

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Free & low-cost Immigration Law help in Colorado

Colorado funds more free immigration help than almost any state. These organizations are real and genuinely focused on removal defense and immigrant legal services. Many are oversubscribed, so call us first to understand your deadline, then reach out.

Free removal-defense and detained representation for adults and children, including people held at the Aurora facility; also publishes a vetted statewide directory of nonprofit immigration legal providers.
Free removal defense and affirmative applications for low-income Denver-area immigrants under a universal-representation model.
Know-your-rights training, a rapid-response network for ICE activity, and plain-English explainers of Colorado's SB 25-276 protections.
State-funded legal-defense grants created under HB 21-1194, with a directory of funded providers across Colorado.
Funds legal representation for detained and at-risk immigrants in Colorado.
Statewide nonprofit civil legal aid for low-income Coloradans and people 60+, including some immigration matters; income generally at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. Main line 303-837-1313.
Free statewide referral line; dial 2-1-1 to be connected to immigration legal aid and social services by your location.

FAQ — Immigration Law in Colorado

ICE just detained my husband in Aurora. What do I do right now?

First, get his A-number from any paperwork, and understand his case is likely at the Aurora Immigration Court inside the GEO-run detention facility on N. Oakland Street, which moves fast. Find out whether he's eligible for a bond hearing or is being held under mandatory detention. Don't wait days guessing. Call us free at 1-844-690-0555, any hour, in English or Spanish, and we'll help you understand the next step. This is legal information, not legal advice.

What's the difference between the Aurora and Denver immigration courts?

Aurora hears detained cases, inside the GEO-run facility at 3130 N. Oakland St., often by video, on a fast schedule. Denver, at 1961 Stout St., hears non-detained cases on a slower docket. Where your loved one is held decides which court, which pace, and how hard it is to get out. If you're not sure which one has your case, call us free at 1-844-690-0555 and we'll help you find it.

I missed my immigration court hearing in Colorado. Is it over?

Not necessarily, but you must move fast. Missing a hearing usually triggers an in-absentia removal order. You may be able to reopen within 180 days if you can show 'exceptional circumstances,' or at any time if you never got proper notice or were in custody through no fault of your own. The clock is unforgiving. Call us free at 1-844-690-0555 to understand your options. Legal information, not legal advice.

How long do I have to appeal an immigration judge's decision?

30 days. Under 8 C.F.R. 1003.38 you must file a Notice of Appeal (Form EOIR-26) so the Board of Immigration Appeals actually receives it within 30 calendar days of the judge's decision, and there's no mailbox rule. Beware outdated sources claiming 10 days. Don't risk it. Call us free at 1-844-690-0555 to confirm your deadline.

Can Colorado police hold my relative just because ICE asked?

Generally no. Under HB 19-1124, Colorado law enforcement can't detain someone past their release or hold them solely for ICE pickup without a judicial warrant; a civil ICE detainer is not a warrant. SB 25-276 further limits how agencies share your data with ICE. These laws are real but being litigated. For how this applies to your situation, call us free at 1-844-690-0555. This is legal information, not legal advice.

Is it true Colorado pays for free deportation lawyers?

Yes. Colorado publicly funds removal defense through HB 21-1194's Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, and Denver runs its own fund as well. Groups like RMIAN and JAMLAC provide free representation, though they're oversubscribed. To understand your deadline before you apply, call us free at 1-844-690-0555, 24/7.

I'm afraid I missed the one-year asylum deadline. Can I still apply?

Maybe. Asylum under INA section 208 generally must be filed within one year of your last U.S. arrival, but narrow 'changed circumstances' or 'extraordinary circumstances' exceptions exist. Even if asylum is barred, withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture may remain. This is the most-missed deadline in immigration law. Call us free at 1-844-690-0555 to talk it through.

Can ICE come into my kids' school or a hospital in Colorado?

Colorado's SB 25-276 bars schools, hospitals, and child care centers from giving ICE access to non-public areas or records about children or patients without a judicial warrant, with civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation paid into the state's Immigrant Legal Defense Fund. The rules are detailed and contested. Call us free at 1-844-690-0555 to understand your rights. Legal information, not legal advice.

Can I get a Colorado driver's license or in-state tuition without legal status?

Yes. Colorado issues driver's licenses regardless of immigration status under SB 13-251, and 2024's SB 24-182 (effective March 31, 2025) removed the SSN/ITIN, tax-return, and two-year-residency hurdles. In-state tuition is available to undocumented students through Colorado ASSET; HB 22-1155 removed the old requirement that students enroll within one year of high-school graduation. To understand how these interact with a federal case, call us free at 1-844-690-0555.

Does calling you make you my lawyer?

No. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship. We give legal information, not legal advice, free and 24/7, in English or Spanish. If you want a lawyer, we can help you arrange a paid consultation with a Colorado-licensed immigration attorney. Start by calling 1-844-690-0555.


Are You a Colorado Immigration Attorney? Join Our Network

We connect frightened Colorado families, from Denver and Aurora to Colorado Springs, Greeley, and Grand Junction, with licensed immigration attorneys for paid consultations on removal defense, asylum, bond, family petitions, and naturalization. If you're admitted to practice and take Colorado immigration matters, we'd like to send you well-screened clients who already know they need counsel. Reach out to join the network. This is a referral path for attorneys and does not change the free, information-only service we provide to the public.

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Reviewed by the Legal Hotline Editorial Team.

General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.

Every Hour Counts. Call Now, Free, 24/7.

Immigration deadlines don't wait for business hours, and one missed hearing or blown filing date can end a case for good. Whether someone you love is detained in Aurora, you have a hearing coming up in Denver, or you just need to know where you stand, call us free at 1-844-690-0555 right now. An AI assistant trained on federal immigration law and Colorado's protections will answer any hour, in English or Spanish, with no income test and no web form. If you need a lawyer, we'll help you arrange a paid consultation with a Colorado-licensed immigration attorney. Legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship.

Free legal information. Not legal advice.

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