Colorado lawmakers want to expand immigrant protections despite "sanctuary" lawsuit
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Colorado is expanding safeguards for people living in the country illegally in what amounts to a poke in the eye for the Trump administration.
Why it matters: The new protections will limit the federal authorities' ability to deport people living in the country unlawfully and likely reinforce the administration's view that Colorado is a "sanctuary state."
Driving the news: The Democratic-led General Assembly sent Colorado Gov. Jared Polis a bill Monday to further shield immigrants from being detained, just days after the Department of Justice sued Colorado and Denver for their immigration policies.
- The legislation prohibits local authorities and other officials from collecting and sharing data about a person's immigration status, allowing cooperation only in criminal matters.
- It blocks arrests in courthouses, jails and prisons, and prevents local officials from detaining a person on behalf of federal immigration authorities.
- Other language eliminates affidavits regarding citizenship previously needed to obtain a driver's license and in-state tuition, and allows immigrants to challenge low-level criminal charges if they could make them eligible for deportation.
What they're saying: State Sen. Julie Gonzales (D-Denver) said the protections are crucial now. "We are in a time where due process is no longer a guarantee depending on the color of your skin or where you might have been born," she said.
The intrigue: Polis has not committed to signing the legislation, particularly after he took a hard line on immigration in his State of the State address in January.
- The Democrat initially raised concerns about the bill and worked behind the scenes to amend it, but it's unclear whether those were adequately addressed.
The other side: Republican lawmakers put forward their own bill to reverse current policies and allow local law enforcement to work with federal officials. It died in committee earlier this session.