Trump's executive orders on his first day in office have impacted Colorado by shutting down refugee admissions, challenging birthright citizenship and stopping legal aid for undocumented immigrants. His promises on the campaign trail of mass deportations became more real when U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies raided apartments in Denver and Aurora on February 5, arresting thirty people.
That same day, the Department of Justice cut funding for "sanctuary jurisdictions," a term used to describe local or state governments that refuse to work with ICE.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis invited ICE and the federal government to deport violent, undocumented criminals in Colorado, but Colorado is considered a sanctuary state by the federal government because of laws blocking state and local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE. Some Republican state lawmakers introduced a bill in January that would allow local law enforcement to report an undocumented immigrant's status to ICE, but the measure's chances are slim in a Democrat-dominated legislature.
The City of Denver and the State of Colorado are considered sanctuary jurisdictions by the Trump administration and Republicans. Other jurisdictions in the Denver area either embraced ICE or remained quiet, however. Here's what Denver and nearby cities and counties have decided when it comes to working with ICE.
Denver
The first Trump administration put Denver on a list of sanctuary jurisdictions in 2018, and the relations haven't improved since. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said during a press conference on Friday, February 14, that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston "is now cooperating" and "we don't want to sue you" to show pressure on any government that might be labeled a sanctuary against ICE.Although Johnston prefers to call Denver a "welcoming city," it's been tagged as a sanctuary city because of laws Denver City Council passed in August 2017 prohibiting city employees from sharing anyone's immigration status with ICE. The City of Denver is also under fire by Trump and his supporters for offering housing or transportation to more than 43,000 migrants during the last two years.
On March 5, Johnston is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee after he was summoned by congressional Republicans to defend comments from November saying he would stand off with ICE if it tried to deport immigrants in his city.
"Denver is a sanctuary jurisdiction that refuses to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement," Kentucky Republican James Comer wrote in a January 27 letter to Johnston.
On February 12, Denver Public Schools filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, seeking a temporary restraining order against a federal policy that lifts restrictions on arresting immigrants in previously off-limits safe spaces like schools, hospitals and churches. According to the mayor's office, Denver is committed to "to protecting critical locations like schools, hospitals, and churches."
On February 12, Denver Public Schools filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, seeking a temporary restraining order against a federal policy that lifts restrictions on arresting immigrants in previously off-limits safe spaces like schools, hospitals and churches. According to the mayor's office, Denver is committed to "to protecting critical locations like schools, hospitals, and churches."
Earlier this year, Denver City Council set aside up to $2 million or $1,000 an hour to pay an immigration policy lawyer who was previously the White House counsel for Joe Biden, reports Denverite.
Aurora
Since 2017, a resolution has been on Aurora's books clarifying it is a "non-sanctuary city," and the city hasn't budged on that status since. In fact, Aurora reaffirmed its "non-sanctuary" status in February 2024, when city leaders assured residents they wouldn't be addressing the tens of thousands migrants in the metro as Denver was cutting Parks & Recreation and DMV services to house and oversee the influx.The Aurora City Council has members who are outspoken about their their support for Trump's mass deportation plan and their frustration with Denver's sanctuary status. In early January, Aurora Mike Coffman accused Johnston of hiding how many migrants he sent to the city, which Johnston has repeatedly denied.
During the months leading up to Trump's reelection, Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky said that members of Tren de Aragua, an international gang that originated in Venezuela, were taking over Aurora apartments, a claim that's been challenged by other Aurora city officials and residents of the apartments. The national attention lured Trump to Aurora, the state's third biggest city, for a campaign event in October, where he unveiled a mass deportation plan: Operation Aurora.
Douglas County
On February 12, state and local officials in Douglas County threw their support behind SB 047, the state measure proposing local cooperation with ICE. George Brauchler, the District Attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, State Representative Max Brooks and state Senator Mark Baisley, are advocating for the bill.Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly also supports the bill.
In April 2024, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners sued Colorado to repeal two state laws that prohibit local law enforcement from detaining a person based on their immigration status; five other counties, mostly in the Western Slope, are also in the lawsuit.
A Denver District Court judge dismissed that lawsuit in December. On January 30, Douglas County announced it had filled an appeal to the decision.
Castle Rock
In December, the city council for Castle Rock, the largest city and county seat of Douglas County, voted in favor of a resolution supporting Donald Trump's mass deportation plans. However, unlike Aurora, it never resolved to call itself a "non-sanctuary city."Arapahoe, Adams and Jefferson counties
Arapahoe and Adams counties have both been criticized by Aurora nonprofits for not funding a response to the influx of migrants that came to the city in 2023 and 2024. Aurora is in both counties (with a small portion in Douglas County), but its local nonprofits charge that neither county used their human services agencies to respond to the crisis like Denver County, which offered housing or transportation to migrants.
Englewood
In late January, the police chief of Englewood, a growing suburb of south Denver in Arapahoe County, said local law enforcement would follow state law banning arrests or detainments based on immigration status. Police Chief David Jackson also said that if Englewood Police Department is called to assist federal enforcement, it will "focus on maintaining public safety and preserving the peace while allowing federal agents to carry out their enforcement actions."Lakewood
Lakewood, the largest city in Jefferson County and third largest in the metro area, dealt with a similar spillover of migrants from Denver, its neighboring jurisdiction to the east. In February 2024, city leaders had to reassure Lakewood residents in town halls and council meetings that the city would not become a sanctuary city. The Lakewood City Council never considered declaring itself a sanctuary city, but its residents showed a robust opposition to the idea of being considered one.
