The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against Colorado and Denver on Friday, alleging that state and city leaders are obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts. This action is part of a broader initiative to compel local governments to cooperate with federal deportation efforts.
The lawsuit, submitted in federal court in Colorado, names Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston as defendants. It challenges various state and city laws that limit or prohibit collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
Among the contested state laws is one that prevents officers from detaining individuals solely based on civil immigration detainers, as well as laws that bar sharing information with federal agencies and restrict local jails from housing individuals detained for civil immigration offenses.
The lawsuit also targets a Denver ordinance that prohibits the use of city resources for immigration enforcement and a 2017 executive order aimed at making Denver a "safe and welcoming city for all."
The administration is seeking a court ruling to deem these laws unconstitutional and to block their enforcement. The lawsuit asserts, "This is a suit to put an end to those disastrous policies and restore the supremacy of federal immigration law."
Many liberal-leaning states and cities have enacted laws that minimize local police involvement in immigration enforcement, aiming to foster trust within immigrant communities. Democratic officials argue that these policies encourage immigrants to report crimes and engage with civic services without fear.
Conversely, Republican officials claim such sanctuary laws offer refuge to criminals and compromise public safety. The office of Governor Polis stated that Colorado is not a sanctuary state and that it routinely collaborates with law enforcement at various levels. "If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid, then we will follow the ruling," the statement added.
Mayor Johnston noted that his city cooperates with federal authorities by notifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement when a so-called "removable alien" is set for release. He further emphasized that essential public spaces like hospitals and schools should be free from immigration enforcement actions.
A recent survey indicated a decline in public support for immigration policies under the Biden administration, prompting some officials to re-evaluate how they describe sanctuary policies. While some Democratic leaders feel pressured to counter the administration's strict immigration stance, they face criticism from supporters to uphold immigrant protections.
Hans Meyer, a Denver immigration attorney who advocated for the challenged laws, criticized the response from Governor Polis as inadequate, expressing disappointment in the governor's approach to federal immigration policy.
This lawsuit mirrors earlier actions taken against Illinois and Chicago and Rochester, New York, with ongoing litigation in those cases. The Trump administration has been working to mandate that local law enforcement agencies assist with deportations and has threatened to withhold funding from non-compliant cities and counties.
In a related move, President Trump signed an executive order directing key officials to identify jurisdictions considered sanctuary cities and pursue legal actions against them.
The lawsuit follows recent arrests of over 100 individuals in a Colorado Springs nightclub raid, which involved local police cooperating with federal agents. The mayor of Colorado Springs, an immigrant himself, supported the enforcement actions, stating that illegal immigrants who commit crimes should face consequences.
Additionally, the lawsuit references Aurora, Colorado, which the administration claims has been affected by crime due to its sanctuary policies. Aurora officials have disputed these assertions, calling them exaggerated.