"We welcome more federal help to detain and deport dangerous criminals," Colorado's top Democrat said on Thursday, January 9, to a crowd of state legislators, staffers, lobbyists and reporters gathered at the State Capitol.
"In Colorado, we have zero tolerance for those who commit violent crimes, whether they are American citizens or not," Polis added. "I truly hope that President-elect Trump and Congress can work together quickly to secure the border, stop human trafficking, and stop the illegal flow of guns and drugs."
The statement came as a surprising (at least partial) endorsement of Trump's mass deportation plan dubbed Operation Aurora. Trump has vowed to send "elite squads" of federal forces to "hunt down, arrest and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country" — a threat that has put Colorado's migrant community on edge, fearing that Trump's troops will not stop at people with gang ties.
“I think it’s common sense," Polis continued at a press conference following the State of the State. "I would hope that nobody wants to let dangerous criminals roam free in our communities whether they’re Democrats or Republicans. … So we look forward to working with ICE and the FBI to detain and deport dangerous criminals.”
It was "very disappointing" to hear Polis "repeat talking points from extremists," says Representative Elizabeth Velasco, a Democrat and Colorado's first Mexican-born legislator.
"That is a talking point of the far right," adds Velasco, who notes that it took over twenty years to get her U.S. citizenship. "We are not criminals. We are family members, workers, entrepreneurs, business owners, neighbors and an important part of the economy. The cost of mass deportations will be great to our state. It's very important that we stand up against extremism and protect everyone who lives in Colorado, no matter their immigration status."
She notes that Polis's remark came on the same day that Congress advanced a proposal requiring ICE to detain people in the country illegally over theft-related crimes. "It's just about deporting poor people," Velasco says. "The rhetoric that we have been hearing, even at the federal level from Democrats, has been damaging."
Polis said he would not support the deportation of people with pending legal status, families with American children or workers in industries including agriculture, hospitality and construction. In his speech, he expressed the desire for Congress to "finally provide legal pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and those who seek to come out of the shadows to help make Colorado greater."
But where, exactly, he draws the line is unclear. When asked what level of law-breaking would trigger the state's cooperation in federal deportation efforts, he offered no specifics. What about driving while intoxicated or shoplifting, for example? “We look forward to more federal assistance to make Colorado safer," Polis responded.
Governor Jared Polis, backed by Senate President James Coleman and House Speaker Julie McCluskie, speaks during the 2025 State of the State address on January 9.
Hannah Metzger
Gonzales told Axios the governor is "trying to score some points with President Trump" by repeating Trump's deportation rhetoric.
This adds to the list of recent events in which Colorado's top Democrat has aligned himself with the other side of the aisle, often to the ire of his own party.
Since Republicans won big in the November election, Polis has celebrated Trump's pick of an anti-vaxer as Health and Human Services secretary, openly condemned President Joe Biden for pardoning his son, and cozied up to Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy over their ties to Trump's proposed government efficiency task force.
Republican Senator Mark Baisley celebrates Polis's speech for its "goal of providing safety to Colorado’s citizens," though he wants the governor to go further. Baisley is sponsoring a bill this session to ban local governments from restricting immigration law enforcement and require police to report anyone they believe is not legally present in the country to ICE.
"The governor’s remarks today showed concern for the well-being of these people living illegally in Colorado but made no mention of the gang activity that has unfortunately arrived along with the peaceful newcomers," Baisley says. "As I meet with constituents from across the eight counties I represent, one of the most frequent concerns I hear is the fear of lawlessness introduced by unvetted criminals who have entered our country illegally. The people’s fears should not be dismissed."
Polis's comments closely mirrored those of House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese in her speech on the first day of the 2025 legislative session on January 8: "We do support illegal immigrants who are violent criminals not being in this country, not harming the people in our communities," the Republican said on the House floor.
"We are glad the Governor echoed my statements," Pugliese noted in a release issued after the State of the State.
“We want good ideas from the left and the right to move Colorado forward," Polis said during his press conference. "I’m willing and excited to work with anyone if it benefits Colorado.”
