What GEO’s Global Human Rights Policy Means for Someone at Eagle Pass Detention Facility

GEO's Global Human Rights Policy isn't written for just one location - it covers GEO employees and subsidiaries worldwide. Staff at Eagle Pass Detention Facility fall under the same policy commitments as staff at any other GEO-run site. This matters when you're raising a concern. You can point to the policy as the standard GEO says it expects across all operations - not some local preference that can be brushed aside.

At the broadest level, GEO says its foundational principles include treating every person with dignity and respecting basic human rights at all times. The company also commits to providing evidence-based rehabilitation programs. For families, these statements set a baseline for what "normal" should look like - respectful interactions, humane conditions, and access to programs that support stability and reentry, not just custody.

On safety and force, GEO draws a tight line: force is restricted to situations where it's absolutely necessary. Firearms are permitted only in self-defense or when there's an imminent threat of death or serious harm. If you're hearing reports of rough treatment, intimidation, or an incident that sounds excessive, this gives you specific language to use when asking what happened and what rules staff were expected to follow.

GEO says all field staff receive at least 40 hours of training each year, and that training includes the Global Human Rights Policy. The point isn't the number - it's that staff are supposed to learn these expectations through formal training, not figure them out on the fly. When you're trying to resolve a problem, you can frame your questions around what staff are trained to do and what the policy says should guide their decisions.

Because the policy is company-wide and included in ongoing training, GEO signals that implementation should be consistent across facilities, including Eagle Pass. If something feels off, ask how the facility puts the policy into practice and how concerns are handled when it isn't followed. Keeping your questions anchored to the written policy helps you stay focused on standards GEO says apply - not personal opinions or "that's just how it is here."

GEO says its Board of Directors and the Board's Human Rights Committee oversee the policy, including an annual review of implementation. For you, this is less about corporate structure and more about accountability: there's a formal, top-level process for reviewing whether the policy is actually being carried out at facilities like Eagle Pass. If a serious issue isn't getting addressed locally, this is the oversight layer you can reference when pushing for the concern to be taken seriously.

Advocacy Practical Steps

• ✓ Use clear language: “GEO’s Global Human Rights Policy applies company-wide to GEO employees and subsidiaries, including staff at Eagle Pass.”
• ✓ When describing the problem, tie it to the stated baseline: treatment with dignity and respect for basic human rights.
• ✓ If the issue involves programming or long periods without activities, ask what evidence-based rehabilitation programs are available to the person in GEO’s care.
• ✓ Ask what grievance options the person has right now: both formal and informal procedures.
• ✓ Specifically ask whether there are secure grievance drop boxes and whether concerns can be raised through informal discussions with facility leadership.
• ✓ If your loved one filed a formal complaint, ask what happens next and whether it will be promptly investigated.

1. Name the policy and the concern - Describe what’s happening and connect it to the company-wide policy that applies to GEO staff at Eagle Pass.
2. Ask for the grievance pathway - Have the person in custody (or you, when appropriate) ask about the available formal and informal grievance procedures and how to use them.
3. Request follow-through on formal complaints - If a formal complaint is submitted, ask what the next steps are and whether it will be promptly investigated.
4. Escalate using the company-wide scope - If the issue isn’t resolved through facility channels, keep your message anchored to the fact that this is a GEO-wide policy standard, not a local rule.