DENVER (KDVR) — Immigrants and other community members living in Colorado gathered at the state capitol to share their personal stories and concerns in light of new executive orders signed by President Donald Trump.
In the middle of that happening, lawmakers learned of a new battle to challenge state immigration law.
Colorado immigrant rights group reacts to President Trump’s executive actionsMost of the efforts seen have called for changes to immigration law have come from the national level. Three of Colorado's Republican congressional members are asking Governor Jared Polis to make a change at the state level.
"Colorado has been and will always be an advocate and a leader in driving policies that create safer, stronger communities," state Senator Julie Gonzales of Denver said before a cheering audience.
Immigrants and allies from Black and Latino communities in Colorado joined state lawmakers in sharing their personal stories of immigration. Following President Trump's new executive orders surrounding immigration, lawmakers said they are looking into how the state can respond.
"We knew that our immigrant communities were at risk. So we are looking through all of our policies to see how we can strengthen Colorado's laws to create more safety and better wellbeing for our immigrant communities to make sure they remain intact," said state Representative Naquetta Ricks of Aurora.
Gov. Polis welcomes federal agents’ help deporting undocumented criminals"We're in the process of reviewing those executive orders currently and let us be clear: we've already ensured that local law enforcement should be following state law and not doing ICE's job for them," Gonzales said.
Congressman Gabe Evans, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and Congressman Jeff Crank sent a letter asking Governor Polis to repeal three of Colorado's state immigration laws, HB19-1124, SB21-131, and HB23-1100, that limit how local law enforcement agencies interact with federal immigration authorities.
"Colorado does have a panel of sanctuary state laws that make it illegal for state and local law enforcement to work with federal authorities as a local police officer, I saw the impact they had on a day-to-day basis; prohibiting me at times from being able to actually work with federal authorities to get these folks out of our community who were there illegally and causing other problems," Congressman Gabe Evans of Colorado's eighth congressional district told reporters with Nexstar's DC Bureau on Capitol Hill.
Governor Polis' office said they are reviewing the letter. State lawmakers at the event said they had not seen the letter beforehand, but they hope the governor will help protect community members.
Judge dismisses lawsuit arguing Colorado immigration laws violate state, federal rules"Immigration law is federal law, right? We will do what we can to protect our communities, that is what we do. And that's the mandate that we've been giving from the people of our community. We will look at those federal laws and we will find ways to protect our communities and that's what we will do," said state Representative Junie Joseph of Boulder.
State lawmakers said in addition to reviewing their policies, they are working with immigrant rights organizations to safeguard communities that may be targeted by policy changes.
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