Gov. Jared Polis ends bid to comply with ICE subpoena
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Gov. Jared Polis in 2025. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Gov. Jared Polis is reversing course on his attempts to provide federal immigration authorities with sensitive state records.
Why it matters: The case shined a spotlight on the tension between federal immigration enforcement and Colorado's privacy and sanctuary protections.
State of play: The Democratic governor ordered state officials in 2025 to comply with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement subpoena for personal data of undocumented children in Colorado, even though state law prohibits data sharing with federal immigration agents.
Yes, but: Now he wants a Denver judge to issue a ruling permanently prohibiting the release of the information, the Denver Post reports.
- His attorneys argued in a court filing Friday that ICE hadn't enforced the subpoena and no longer needs the information.
What they're saying: "We are asking the court to end this matter," Polis spokesperson Eric Maruyama said in a statement to the Post.
- "While we believe responding to the subpoena was allowed in this instance, given the timeline and lack of additional information from the federal agency, it is time to move forward."
Catch up quick: Last year, Polis pushed to share the information with ICE because, he argued, it was tied to a human trafficking criminal investigation.
- Scott Moss, a former state Department of Labor and Employment official, sued to prevent the release, citing the state ban.
- Denver District Court Judge A. Bruce Jones sided with Moss and temporarily blocked the release of the records.
- ICE did not intervene in the court case.
What we're watching: If the judge grants Polis' latest request, it would permanently block the administration from complying with the ICE subpoena.
- Polis retained outside attorneys to argue his case. The cost exceeded $110,000, the Post reports.