The Trump administration has once again turned its attention to Colorado, designating the state as a “sanctuary” for unauthorized immigrants in a new report released by the Justice Department. This designation includes not only Colorado as a whole but also cites Denver specifically, categorizing it among 35 other jurisdictions across the nation, including the District of Columbia.
In a recently updated lawsuit against top state officials — including Gov. Jared Polis, state Attorney General Phil Weiser, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins — federal attorneys have referred to the case of Caroline Dias Goncalves as evidence that Colorado is subverting federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Goncalves was detained after being pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy in Mesa County and subsequently reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents through a private Signal chat. Following her detention by ICE, she spent more than two weeks in custody. In a move that highlights the ongoing tension over immigration policies, Weiser has since filed a lawsuit against the deputy involved in her case for cooperating with ICE, while the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has issued sanctions against him. The Sheriff criticized the state’s actions as counterproductive.
The federal government has also objected to Colorado’s decision to sanction a law enforcement officer acting in alignment with ICE. The updated complaint in the lawsuit, titled USA v. Colorado, states, “When officers choose to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agencies to keep their communities safe and enforce federal law, the state of Colorado hauls them into court as punishment for doing their jobs.”
Adding to the conflict, recent state legislation has expanded the number of employees barred from sharing Coloradans’ personal information with immigration authorities for deportation purposes. This includes not only law enforcement officers but also pretrial officers and pretrial services staff, which significantly limits the ability of local authorities to facilitate communication between federal immigration agents and individuals in custody.
The lawsuit argues that such laws impede local law enforcement’s ability to properly cooperate with federal agencies, stating: “The … bill severely restricts employees from collecting or sharing information with federal immigration enforcement authorities.”
In comments regarding the new designation of sanctuary jurisdictions, Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the potential dangers posed by sanctuary policies, asserting, “Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design.” Bondi affirmed that the Department of Justice will persist in its litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions across the country, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, to eliminate such policies.
Weiser declined to provide specific comments on the updated sanctuary list due to ongoing litigation, while Denver Mayor Johnston’s spokesperson, Jon Ewing, quipped, “And here we thought the Trump Administration didn’t like lists!” Ewing emphasized that Denver is committed to protecting the rights of all its residents while adhering to federal, state, and local laws.
This sanctuary designation comes after an earlier list from May that encompassed various Colorado cities and counties. In response, some counties, including El Paso County, actively lobbied for their removal from the list, leading to amendments. Ultimately, the May list was abandoned by the Trump administration, which restarted the process of identifying sanctuary jurisdictions.
Currently, the listing itself carries no legal consequences, but it could lay the groundwork for denying or retracting federal funding in the future. The criteria for selecting sanctuary jurisdictions appear inconsistent, as all Colorado areas are subject to the same state laws. For instance, while Denver prohibits ICE agents from accessing non-public jail areas, this policy may differ in other counties.
Denver’s approach to immigration enforcement has been particularly pronounced, considering that Trump secured less than 21 percent of the vote there in the 2024 election, highlighting the contrasting political climate of the city compared to the rest of the state. In a contrasted position, El Paso County, which has not been included in the most recent sanctuary list, reiterated its commitment to reversing Colorado’s sanctuary laws while collaborating closely with ICE.
El Paso County’s spokeswoman, Natalie Sosa, stated, “We are working to reverse Colorado’s sanctuary laws, and we are fully collaborating with ICE officials, as state statute allows. Together, we have provided testimony, called attention to the rising crime rate, and fortified El Paso County as an anti-sanctuary.” She added, “Let us be clear, we will not pander to Denver politicians, whose political agenda has made Colorado less safe for everyone.”
Despite claims of rising crime rates, major categories of crime have actually fallen across the state in recent months, including in Denver. The ongoing legal battle between the federal administration and officials from Colorado and Denver continues in federal court.
image source from：cpr
