Several lawmakers in the state legislature are trying to create new protections for Colorado鈥檚 immigrants against hard-line 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 Denver immigrant rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra.
The measure builds off of legislation that first established the restrictions on cooperation with immigration authorities. Several laws passed over the last few years made it illegal for law enforcement 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 peoples鈥� personal data with ICE and other immigration authorities, unless they have obtained a valid warrant first. Another major provision would prohibit immigration authorities from conducting operations in buildings like hospitals, schools, places of worship and childcare centers.
Gonzales said it鈥檚 unclear whether federal authorities will comply with the measure, if it鈥檚 ultimately signed into law. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in the past that state law cannot undermine or contradict 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�
The Democrats鈥� bill has been in the works for months, long before Trump took office. Gonzales said that鈥檚 in part because of ongoing negotiation with Gov. Jared Polis to ensure he is on board and because she wants to make sure the provisions will stand the test of time.
The bill鈥檚 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 proposed new rules help immigrants across Colorado, 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 oppose efforts to undermine deportation actions and support the Trump administration鈥檚 immigration policies. 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.
