I am writing to address the alarming lack of transparency regarding the facility at 32 Sheppard Drive. While official records describe it as an administrative hub for six Colorado counties, local GIS filings reveal a “shell game” of ownership involving six different trust companies.
The stakes of this ambiguity are high. In cities like Merrimack, New Hampshire, and Surprise, Arizona, local governments are facing significant litigation and liability over ICE real estate procurement and unauthorized land use. As of February 2026, ICE is mired in over 20,000 habeas corpus petitions and thousands of documented violations of court orders. Durango cannot afford to be the next legal casualty.
The events of last October proved that “no comment” is no longer an acceptable response from our leadership. I am asking the City Council for three direct answers:
1. Did the city approve an occupancy permit or business license for 32 Sheppard that explicitly allows for the detention of inmates?
2. Has the building been retrofitted for detention, and was that work permitted?
3. Is the city of Durango cooperating – logistically or legally – with the holding of federal detainees?
Our local government must decide: Is it protecting its residents, or is it quietly facilitating a litigious, high-risk jail in our backyard?
Jeff Ross
Durango
