Democrats Pass Immigrant Protection Bill Amid Federal Lawsuit

Department of Justice building exterior with window and plants.

Colorado Democrats have passed new immigrant protection legislation just days after the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against the state for its sanctuary policies, setting up a direct challenge to federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Key Takeaways

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Colorado, Denver, and local leaders over “sanctuary” policies that allegedly hinder federal deportation efforts
Colorado Democrats passed additional immigrant protections despite the pending federal lawsuit and Republican opposition
The federal lawsuit specifically cites concerns about a controversial apartment complex in Aurora allegedly taken over by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua
Republican efforts to revive a law allowing local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration agents failed in committee by a 2-3 vote
President Trump’s administration argues Colorado’s policies violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution

Federal Lawsuit Targets Colorado’s Sanctuary Policies

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Colorado, Denver, and several local leaders including Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Denver, argues that the state’s sanctuary policies directly interfere with the federal government’s constitutional authority over immigration enforcement. The legal challenge specifically targets laws preventing local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities.

The lawsuit has drawn particular attention to a controversial apartment complex in Aurora, which federal officials claim has been taken over by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. Local officials have disputed the extent of the gang’s control over the complex but acknowledge there have been ongoing issues at the location. The Trump administration argues that sanctuary policies have hampered efforts to address such security concerns effectively.

“The United States has well-established, preeminent, and preemptive authority to regulate immigration matters,” states the lawsuit.

Colorado’s Response to Federal Pressure

Colorado officials have responded to the lawsuit with measured statements. A spokesperson for the governor’s office stated they “will not comment on the merits of the lawsuit” but denied Colorado is a “sanctuary state” while affirming they will comply with court rulings. Meanwhile, Denver’s mayor’s office has criticized the lawsuit, asserting the city complies with all laws and is ready to defend its values.

Colorado’s Attorney General’s Office has taken a stronger stance, with a spokesperson stating the office “is committed to defending Colorado law and has done so successfully in the past in this area. We stand ready to do so again.”

The lawsuit against Colorado is part of a broader federal crackdown on sanctuary jurisdictions under President Trump’s administration. Similar lawsuits have been filed against Chicago and Rochester, New York, indicating a nationwide strategy to challenge sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Democrats Advance New Protections Despite Lawsuit

In what appears to be a direct response to the federal lawsuit, Colorado’s Democrat-controlled legislature has advanced additional immigrant protection legislation. This move comes amid intense controversy over the state’s existing policies limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The timing of this legislative action has been viewed by critics as a deliberate challenge to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

Failed Republican Counter-Effort

Republicans recently attempted to revive a law that would allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration agents, but their efforts failed in committee by a 2-3 vote after a five-hour debate. Senate Bill 047, sponsored by Republican lawmakers, sought to reenact a 2006 law requiring law enforcement to report arrests of suspected illegal immigrants to ICE.

“Roybal accused criminals of taking advantage of Colorado’s status as a ‘sanctuary’ state to ‘escape’ prosecution.”

The bill would have permitted law enforcement to hold individuals for up to 48 hours to allow ICE to take action and would have prohibited local governments from restricting communication with federal immigration agents. Sheriff Jason Mikesell of Teller County, the only department in Colorado complying with ICE under the 287(g) program, inspired the legislation. However, Democrats opposed the bill, arguing that immigration has become an overly politicized issue.

This raid in Colorado Springs is a rare victory for justice, but it underscores the catastrophic failure of liberal immigration policies. Fact one: DHS reports that Tren de Aragua’s presence in the U.S. has spiked 200% since 2022, fueled by open-border policies that saw 3 million…

— Saggezza Eterna (@FinalTelegraph) April 27, 2025

Competing Perspectives on Public Safety

Supporters of Colorado’s sanctuary policies argue they protect immigrant communities and improve public safety by encouraging cooperation with local law enforcement. Critics, including Douglas County Undersheriff David Walcher, question why Colorado is impeding federal immigration enforcement. “Why is the state of Colorado getting in their way?” he asked. “We want to help our federal partners and do what we do — keep us safe in our respective jurisdictions. We don’t enforce immigration law, but we can certainly assist them to accomplish their mission.”

The Colorado Fiscal Institute and Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition have argued that repealing sanctuary protections would create fear, decrease public safety, and potentially lead to racial profiling. These organizations contend that such policies would be harmful to all immigrants, not just those who have committed crimes, and would undermine community trust in law enforcement.