31-01-2025
Colorado group files ballot initiative over state immigration law
DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado's immigration laws are in the spotlight. Critics call Colorado a 'sanctuary state,' which the governor denied, but some say state laws are standing in the way of deporting people accused of violent crimes.
Some folks are calling on Colorado leaders to remove state immigration laws, saying they will let voters decide if lawmakers do not act.
State lawmakers talk immigration as congressional members ask Polis to change state law
'There are these sanctuary policies that were passed in 2019, 2021, and 2023 that make it hard for local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities. And I'm not holding my breath that the legislature is going to do anything about that but I think they should,' Michael Fields, Fox31 Political Analyst.
Fields is also the president of Advance Colorado. The conservative think tank filed a ballot initiative this Colorado voters approve it, the proposed measure would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal requests to notify the Department of Homeland Security prior to release and detain inmates if the inmate is charged with a crime of violence or the inmate has been convicted of a prior felony.
'People care about these issues that we delve in on, whether that's TABOR refunds, whether it's helping law enforcement, rather it's putting violent criminals in jail: there is a long list of things but it's all the things the legislature won't do that people want. That's where the conflict kind of happens and where a group like ours can come in and say look if you're not actually going to fix this, if you're not going to make it mandatory, if you're not going to be clear on what the law is, we'll go and put this in front of voters,' Fields said.
Three Republican members of Congress from Colorado recently asked the governor to repeal three state laws that limit local law enforcement's engagement with federal Jared Polis has maintained Colorado is not a sanctuary state.
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'We work closely, the state, with all federal agencies so our state with all federal agencies so our state department of public safety, our state troopers work closely with FBI, ICE, DEA. I have not been made aware of any impediments that prevent that kind of collaboration to keep Coloradans safer. At the same time, we of course want to make sure that the federal government is not able to co-opt local enforcement,' Governor Polis said when asked about the proposal at press conference Monday.
A spokesperson for his office told FOX31:
'Governor Polis will review measures that make the ballot closer to any election. Governor Polis has been clear that Colorado will work with federal law enforcement agencies in apprehending dangerous criminals to make Colorado safer. Colorado is not a sanctuary state. When it comes to criminal investigations or prosecutions, local law enforcement should be working with federal partners, in accordance with state and federal law, to fight crime and respond when asked.'
Governor's Office spokesperson
With immigration a hot topic for voters this past November, would Colorado voters vote yes on this proposal? FOX31 Political Analyst Andy Boian does not think so.
'The majority of voters that are going to vote on something like this are those that participate in non-presidential years, so the turnout is lower. These are going to be people that are educated voters who understand this and won't go for it,' Boian said. 'Colorado is a blue state, they are not going to for this: something that feels and looks like something from the Republican administration, it looks like they are going to round up folks and kick them out and I just don't think that's going to happen in Colorado.
'I think the legislature won't act and I think that voters will turn it down,' Boian added. 'This whole initiative and Congress coming to the governor is really showboating, in my opinion. Really it doesn't have a whole lot to do with what actually has to happen which is: what are already doing; which is cooperating with federal authorities. When we have criminals in our areas that need to be deported, that's what we are doing — we're acting on that.'
A new nationwide Emerson poll found only 16% of voters rank immigration as their top issue. If this ballot initiative makes its way through the process, it will be on the 2026 Colorado ballot.
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