What Rights and Protections GEO Says Apply to People at Eagle Pass Detention Facility

GEO's Global Human Rights Policy is a company-wide standard for how people in its care should be treated. According to GEO, the policy applies to all GEO employees and subsidiaries worldwide - and extends to contractors, suppliers, and other third parties working at GEO facilities. For families, this matters: it's meant to cover not just direct GEO staff, but anyone working at a facility like Eagle Pass Detention Facility.

Dignity sits at the center of GEO's stated commitments. The company says it recognizes that people in its care have inherent human rights and must be treated with dignity at all times. GEO also says it complies with applicable laws and regulations related to the care and protection of people in its custody.

The policy also addresses religious rights directly. GEO says its commitment to lawful care includes freedom of religion and protecting the right to worship. In practical terms, this means GEO has put in writing that religious practice should be respected at its facilities.

On use of force, GEO's policy sets a clear threshold: force is restricted to situations where it is absolutely necessary. That language frames force as an exception, not a routine tool - part of what GEO presents as baseline protections for people in its care.

The policy goes further on firearms. GEO says firearms are permitted only in cases of self-defense or when there's an imminent threat of death or serious harm. This is GEO's written limit on when deadly force is allowed under its standards.

Policies only matter if staff know them and are expected to follow them. GEO says all field staff receive a minimum of 40 hours of training per year, including training on GEO's Code and the Global Human Rights Policy. Because GEO says the policy applies to employees, subsidiaries, contractors, and other third parties, this training claim is how the company describes putting those protections into daily practice.

For families, GEO's policy serves as a plain-language statement of what the company says should happen at a GEO-operated site like Eagle Pass: dignified treatment, compliance with laws protecting people in custody, and a facility environment free from unlawful abuse, harassment, and sexual misconduct. It's also a way to name what feels wrong when you hear something concerning - because the policy describes safety and respectful treatment as a baseline, not a special request.

• ✓ Use GEO’s confidential, anonymous toll-free hotline (managed by an independent third party) to report potential violations of GEO’s human-rights policy.
• ✓ If timing or language is a barrier, GEO says the hotline is available 24/7 and in multiple languages.
• ✓ If you’re worried about blowback, GEO says it enforces a strict Anti-Retaliation Policy connected to hotline reporting.
• ✓ Ask your loved one about the grievance process inside the facility - GEO says people in its care have both formal and informal grievance options.
• ✓ For “secure channel” reporting, GEO says grievances can be submitted through options like drop boxes, and concerns can also be raised through informal discussions with facility leadership.
• ✓ If a formal complaint is made, GEO says it is promptly investigated and that, if a violation is found, appropriate reporting happens and disciplinary or preventative action is taken.