Several Colorado lawmakers are trying to create new protections for the state's immigrants against hardline deportation policies under the Trump administration.
鈥淧eople are scared and afraid. And I understand that, and I respect it, because I've also got a little pit of anxiety in my stomach too,鈥� said Sen. Julie Gonzales of Denver. 鈥淲e drafted a lot of this policy in response to the actual tactics that we have seen be utilized by ICE now under the second Trump administration.鈥�
Gonzales and a group of other Democrats, Sen. Mike Weissman of Aurora, Rep. Lorena Garcia of Adams County and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco of Glenwood Springs, introduced a long-awaited piece of legislation Friday that would limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, like Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
The proposal, , comes in the wake of federal immigration raids in the Denver metro several weeks ago and the high-profile detainment of local immigrant rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra.
The measure builds off of legislation that first established restrictions on cooperation with immigration authorities. Several laws passed over the last few years made it illegal for law enforcement within the state to arrest or detain people on behalf of federal immigration authorities and prohibited local and state governments from entering into contracts with them.
A big piece of the bill would block local governments from sharing personal data with ICE and other immigration authorities, unless they are presented with a valid warrant first. Another major provision would prohibit federal authorities from conducting deportation operations in buildings like hospitals, schools, places of worship and childcare centers.
Gonzales said it鈥檚 unclear whether immigration agents will comply with the measure, if it鈥檚 ultimately signed into law. The U.S. Supreme Court that states don't have the authority to to challenge federal law in regard to immigration.
鈥淲e can't control what ICE is going to do and whether they are going to break the law. We are witnessing that play out in states across the country, a trampling of due process,鈥� Gonzales said. 鈥淲hat we can do is solve for how we as Colorado are going to act and how we are going to respond.鈥�
An ICE public affairs officer said the agency does not comment on pending legislation.
While parts of the Democrats' bill are a direct response to the latest Trump administration, the legislation has been in the works for months, before the president took office this year. Gonzales said that鈥檚 due to negotiations to ensure support from Gov. Jared Polis' and because she wants to make sure the bill's provisions can stand the test of time.
The sponsors also crafted it alongside several immigrant advocacy groups, including Glenwood Springs-based Voces Unidas. The group鈥檚 president, Alex Sanchez, said it鈥檚 important to make sure the measure would help immigrants across the state, not just in the Denver metro.
鈥淲e've got to ensure that Colorado values are embedded in state policy, and that every county and every local municipality understands the values in Colorado. Because the federal government may come without invitation from us, and they're going to be in our community,鈥� Sanchez said.
Colorado's legislative Republicans generally support the Trump administration鈥檚 immigration policies and oppose efforts to undermine federal deportation actions. They tried to roll back the cooperation constraints by introducing their own legislation this year that would have allowed local law enforcement to detain or arrest people on behalf of federal immigration authorities.
But their bill was quickly killed by Democrats, who hold strong majorities across the legislature.
Senate Bill 276 next faces its first legislative hearing in front of the Senate State Veterans and Military Affairs committee. If committee members vote to approve the measure, it will head to the Senate floor for consideration by the full chamber.
This story was updated Mon., April 7, at 10:40am to include a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
