Johnston bans federal immigration authorities from city property
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Mayor Mike Johnston (center) during a press conference Thursday outside the City and County Building. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios
Flanked by top local officials, Mayor Mike Johnston announced Thursday that Denver will bar federal agents from city property, a step he said will help protect residents from federal overreach.
Why it matters: It's among the most combative ways the Democratic mayor has flexed his executive authority to confront the Trump administration, and by staging a press conference at the steps of city hall, he made clear he wanted to maximize visibility.
What he's saying: Johnston repeatedly pledged the move would not make Denver a target for the federal government: "Our goal is not to provoke, but to protect," the mayor told the press. He denied a suggestion that the order was performative.
- "This is legally illiterate," a spokesperson from Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Axios Denver, adding the Supremacy Clause calls on the federal government to enforce federal immigration law.
State of play: Johnston signed an executive order Thursday banning agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from accessing city-owned or city-controlled buildings.
- The move calls on Denver police to arrest federal agents using excessive force.
Reality check: The mayor told Axios Denver there are no recent examples of ICE operating in city-owned or city-controlled properties.
- Plus, the city works with federal immigration authorities only under very narrow circumstances, and Denver police don't assist in enforcement.
Between the lines: The order is a direct response to the public's fear over immigration enforcement, Johnston said, which has ramped up since the start of President Trump's second term.
- Johnston referenced the two fatal January shootings in Minnesota carried out by federal immigration authorities.
The intrigue: City Attorney Miko Brown called Johnston's order "measured and constitutional," adding that Denver can respect federal authority while balancing its own rules.
- She added that federal agents found in violation could face civil penalties or criminal charges.
What's next: On Monday, Denver City Council will vote on a proposal targeting federal immigration agents that would ban law enforcement from wearing face masks.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.