Colorado strengthened its protections for immigrants on Friday, adopting legislation that reinforces its unwillingness to cooperate with the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign

Colorado strengthened its protections for immigrants on Friday, adopting legislation that reinforces its unwillingness to cooperate with the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign

Colorado has reinforced its stance against the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign by adopting new legislation that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The bill, signed by Governor Jared Polis on Friday, aims to protect immigrants while maintaining federal partnerships for crime-fighting efforts.

The new legislation includes provisions that prevent jails from delaying a defendant's release for immigration enforcement purposes and prohibits local governments from sharing individuals' personal information with federal immigration authorities. Polis, a Democrat, emphasized that the state and local law enforcement cannot be commandeered to enforce federal civil immigration laws but remains committed to working with federal partners on criminal activities [1].

The bill's passage comes amidst ongoing legal battles between the Trump administration and Colorado. The Justice Department has sued the state and Denver, alleging that state and municipal laws limiting cooperation with federal authorities are unconstitutional. The administration has also carried out immigration raids and rescinded federal grants to Denver. Supporters of the legislation argue that it protects Colorado's principles and prevents the state from becoming a collaborator in a "bigoted and anti-immigrant deportation machine" [1].

The Trump administration's efforts to penalize Democratic-led cities and states over immigration policies have drawn legal challenges. Denver, facing a budget shortfall, has joined lawsuits challenging federal funding threats. Meanwhile, legislators in other blue states are considering additional protections for immigrants, though some Democrats have shown signs of stepping back on certain policies [1].

The new Colorado law also addresses concerns raised by school leaders and community activists about the Trump administration's reversal of policies regarding raids on campuses and churches. The legislation bars federal immigration agents from nonpublic areas of government buildings without a warrant [1].

In a separate development, immigration advocates in Colorado have identified about a dozen immigrants who were reportedly removed to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador. The ACLU of Colorado and other advocacy groups are challenging the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport these individuals, arguing that it affords them little to no due process [2].

The current political climate in Colorado remains complex, with Polis facing mixed constituencies and the state's immigration laws being challenged by conservative-leaning jurisdictions like Douglas County. Despite these challenges, Colorado's stance on immigration is expected to continue shaping the national dialogue on sanctuary policies and federal authority.

References:
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/23/colorado-immigration-laws-sanctuary-polis/
[2] https://coloradonewsline.com/2025/05/23/whats-known-about-detainees-from-colorado-who-were-sent-to-el-salvador/