Ronduen et al. v. The GEO Group, Inc.

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Ronduen et al. v. The GEO Group, Inc.

On Monday March 20, 2023, the Social Justice Legal Foundation (SJLF) filed a class action lawsuit against GEO Group Inc., a multi-billion-dollar corporation profiting from human captivity. The class action is brought by seven individuals on their behalf and on behalf of more than 1,300 detained people harmed by GEO Group’s reckless use of a toxic chemical at Adelanto Immigration Detention Facility.

As the complaint alleges, GEO staff sprayed HDQ Neutral into the air and onto all surfaces, including tables, microwaves, telephones, rails, door handles, bathrooms, showers, and sinks, from vats strapped to their backs or from spray bottles. Plaintiffs described, and GEO Group confirmed, that this harsh chemical was used every 15 to 30 minutes – day and night.

While GEO Group has made billions in revenue from its operation of private detention facilities —including a recent $2.1 billion agreement to oversee the expansion of its operation of Adelanto—the company improperly used a chemical that is known to cause a myriad of short- and long-term health effects, including damage to throat and nasal passages, loss of vision, skin rashes and can even lead to reproductive and developmental effects and DNA damage.

The lawsuit seeks to hold GEO Group accountable for its blatant disregard for the people it is entrusted with caring for and compensate Plaintiffs, and class members, for damages related to their over exposure to HDQ Neutral.

SJLF thanks the numerous immigrant activists and organizers who were, or currently still are, detained at Adelanto for their zealous work and support in bringing GEO Group’s inhumane actions to light.

“My eyes, nose, and throat, started to burn and the smell was so strong I was often too nauseous to eat.” Plaintiff, Cesar Hernandez

“I trusted GEO Group because they were the authorities responsible for our care in Adelanto and would know how the chemicals should be safely used. Sadly, it was the opposite.” Plaintiff, Somboon Phaymany