Latest news with #JasonMikesell
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'You won't recognize Colorado': State vs. federal law dilemma could impact funding
(COLORADO) — Several Colorado law enforcement agencies have called for a shift in legislation and the upper courts due to contradictory laws that are allegedly endangering public safety. On Tuesday, April 29, the Teller County Sheriff, Jason Mikesell, called on state lawmakers who have introduced recent immigration laws. Sheriff Mikesell argued that bills such as HB23-1100 and SB25-276 protect criminals and prevent law enforcement from detaining people with criminal histories or sharing information about them with federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). TCSO, ICE: Colorado legislation hinders law enforcement 'We as a state are a sanctuary state; we are protecting convicted criminals that are on parole, in prisons, in jails, and on probation,' said Sheriff Mikesell. WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE BELOW: If signed into law, SB25-276 would propose changes to Colorado law, including prohibiting a military force from another state from entering Colorado without the governor's permission, unless acting on federal orders or as part of the United States armed forces. The bill passed with a vote of 22-13 in the Senate and passed in the Colorado House on Saturday, May 4, and now heads over to Governor Jared Polis' desk for approval. HB23-1100 prohibits state and local law enforcement from signing new agreements to hold immigration-related detainees on behalf of the federal government. 'We are in unprecedented times, where people are being unjustly targeted, incarcerated, removed, deported; we sit in a position where we may be able to push back and help out to provide some protection,' said Senator Jessie Danielson over SB25-276. Sheriff Mikesell argued that if passed, the bill would put law enforcement in a 'very critical position' as it puts them between federal and state law. 'We can't just say no to laws. But it also identifies Colorado as being the one state that really identifies and says, 'We will not follow federal law.'' Local Lawyer: Many detained in COS DEA Operation may not be able to get a trial before being deported When asked about Sheriff Mikesell's statement, a spokesperson for the Governor's Office provided FOX21 News with a statement and added that Colorado is not a sanctuary state. 'Colorado is not a sanctuary state, and Governor Polis continues urging Congress to secure the border and do their job and pass comprehensive immigration reform,' the statement read. 'The Governor's office has expressed concerns about the original version of SB25-276, and has been working with legislators, as well as stakeholders, including law enforcement, throughout the process on amendments that would help gain his support. The Governor regularly meets with local law enforcement about how Colorado can continue to keep our communities safe.' ICE Assistant Field Director Robert Coultrip also spoke on Tuesday, April 29, about how state and federal law contradict and further leave law enforcement in a never-ending cycle, as they cannot assist federal agencies. According to Coultrip, HB19-1124 also hinders ICE's Criminal Alien Program (CAP), a detainer process that allows ICE to make arrests while an individual is in custody. Coultrip said HB19-1124 targets the progress and lets counties release individuals within their normal time range. 'If we get here in time, we get them, but if we don't, we don't, and they are released back to the community,' said Coultrip. He added that some counties allow them to take individuals in custodial environments, while others do not. On May 6, District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney concluded that the federal government could not use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to remove Venezuelans from Colorado who have been accused of belonging to a gang called Tren de Aragua (TdA). On May 2, Sweeney also required the federal government to provide 21 days' notice to anyone it seeks to deport so they can contest their removal. Rally held to protest bust on illegal nightclub FOX21 News also previously spoke to David McDivitt, who explained that the federal government does not need to use the act for those who have been in the U.S. less than two years and entered illegally. Consequences of not following federal law could soon be seen across the state. On April 28, President Trump signed an executive order targeting sanctuary cities and states. The order says that those states that do not comply with federal law could lose funding. Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams said that the order could put Colorado in danger of losing $18.4 billion in federal funding. 'You won't recognize Colorado after this summer if we lose federal funding,' Williams said. 'I would ask the legislature to overturn these bills that Jason [Mikesell] talked about, to ask yourself why you're preventing local law enforcement from working with federal law enforcement.' On Friday, May 2, the Department of Justice sued Colorado and Denver for allegedly interfering with federal efforts to enforce immigration laws. 'Colorado is not a sanctuary state. The State of Colorado works with local, state and federal law enforcement regularly and we value our partnerships with local, county and federal law enforcement agencies to make Colorado safer. If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid then we will follow the ruling. We are not going to comment on the merits of the lawsuit,' a spokesperson with the Colorado Governor's Office told our sister station, FOX31 in Denver, about the lawsuit. The San Miguel County Sheriff's Office also spoke up against the executive order, with Sheriff Bill Masters saying the order was an attempt to federalize the Sheriff's Office to 'do the current administration's bidding on their political cause of the day.' 'Not since the Runaway Slave Act of 1850 has the Federal Government attempted to federalize and use local peacekeepers to fulfill its political objectives,' the statement Sheriff Masters released via Facebook said. 'Many Sheriffs of that era refused to enforce (even under penalty of law) the Runaway Slave Act. As concerned as I am regarding federalization of local peacekeepers for immigration enforcement, I also see this current attempt as opening the door for future administrations to consider requiring local Sheriffs to enforce federal laws to arrest firearm owners, political opponents, protestors, etc. Although I am Sheriff of this great county for only another 30 days, I want to assure our local residents that during my short remaining tenure, I will follow Colorado law and not permit the federal government to use my office for political purposes.' Earlier in March, the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) also appealed to the Colorado Legislature to make a change, as consequences of the current policies were 'not theoretical' and 'are tragically real, measured in lives lost, communities traumatized, and public spaces rendered unsafe.' 'All the counties in Colorado, all 64, have said that we will stop working with the state of Colorado,' said Williams. 'That's unheard of, we don't even think about that because we respect the rule of law. I ask the state to respect the rule of law as well.' FOX21 News reached out to the Governor's Office for comment over contradicting laws that could hinder local law enforcement, and will update this article when more information is available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado House passes bill regulating semiautomatic firearms, banning ‘bump stocks'
DENVER (KDVR) — In a vote of 68-30, the Colorado House approved a bill that House Democrats say would fully implement and enforce the state's existing high-capacity magazine ban. The bill would require anyone in Colorado after Aug. 1, 2026, to have a permit and complete firearm safety training to purchase high-powered firearms with detachable magazines. The bill would also prohibit anyone from selling or buying aftermarket accessories for semiautomatic guns, like binary triggers and bump stocks. 2 lost teenagers rescued with drone aid at Roxborough State Park 'This gun violence prevention legislation answers the call to action from our neighbors and will save lives,' said Rep. Meg Froelich, a Democrat representing Englewood, in a release. 'We know that semi-automatic weapons become especially deadly when they are paired with high-capacity magazines, which is why Colorado Democrats passed a 2013 law to prohibit these high-capacity magazines. We've raised a generation on lock down drills and 1 in 15 people have experienced a mass shooting. We're passing this bill today so we can save lives and prevent more Coloradans from having to go through the pain of losing a loved one to senseless gun violence.' Opponents of the bill said that the measure would cost millions of dollars for local sheriff's offices and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to administer the new requirements. Those requirements are one of the following: Complete a hunter education course certified by CPW and within five years of making the purchase, complete a basic firearms safety course Within five years before making the purchase, complete an extended firearms safety course, or Complete an extended firearms safety course more than five years before making the purchase and complete a basic firearms safety course within five years before making the purchase To make that happen, sheriff's offices would be required to issue firearms safety course eligibility cards, with requirements for that card including completion of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. RTD sees 52% drop in security calls after safety upgrades Among those opposing the bill was the Teller County Sheriff's Office. On March 17, Sheriff Jason Mikesell called the bill a 'train wreck' and 'an issue for all Colorado citizens across the board, not just gun owners.' He said that the financial impact on CPW will be serious. 'It's really going to just create what we originally believed was a registry, it's going to prohibityour ability to go get the standard weapons that you've been able to get without having to, what they like to call 'pathway to purchase' which in other words is just you buying your rightsback from the state,' said Teller County Sheriff's Office Commander Sven Bonnelycke in a YouTube post. 'It's going to be a bad thing for us.' Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly also appeared before legislators to testify against the bill. 'This Bill is a clear violation of our Second Amendment rights,' he said on a sheriff's campaign Facebook page. CPW would be required to develop and maintain a firearms training and safety course record system that includes records of those holding a valid firearms course card and those who have completed a hunter education course, a basic firearms safety course, or an extended firearms safety course. 'As gun violence continues to devastate communities across Colorado, Colorado Democrats are again taking action to prevent future tragedies,' said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, a Democrat representing Fort Collins. 'When semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines get into the wrong hands, it presents a major threat to the health and safety of our communities. With this legislation passing today, we're taking another step to prevent senseless violence in our communities and save countless lives.' Colorado House Democrats said that the bill 'would not impact the sale of shotguns, commonly used hunting rifles, semiautomatic firearms that have fixed magazines and almost all handguns.' The bill would prevent sales of gas-operated semiautomatic handguns, but recoil-operated handguns 'which make up over 90 percent of the pistol market,' according to House Democrats, would not be impacted. The bill would not impact currently-owned firearms. It now returns to the Colorado Senate where legislators will vote on amendments made in the House. If approved, without amendments, the bill would head to the governor's desk for a signature or veto. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teller County sheriff announces run for Colorado governor in 2026
A view of the Teller County Sheriff's Office. (Google Maps) Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell will run for Colorado governor as a Republican candidate in 2026. Mikesell filed his affidavit declaring his candidacy Wednesday. His campaign website says Colorado is in crisis, highlighting issues including the state budget, water, housing, mental health and immigration. 'Our policies will bring Coloradoans together not divide them,' Mikesell's candidacy announcement says. 'I will sign laws brought to my desk that fix problems and will veto laws that impact on our freedoms or seek to take away local control and our rights.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mikesell was the last county sheriff in Colorado to have a so-called 287(g) agreement with federal authorities allowing his office to detain people on civil immigration violations after the Colorado Legislature passed a law banning the practice. The agreement allowed deputies in the sheriff's department to make immigration-related arrests for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement after undergoing a four-week immigration law training. The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado sued Mikesell in 2019 challenging his office's continued engagement with ICE, and the two parties entered a joint agreement concluding the years-long case at the end of January. It allowed Mikesell to continue to operate under the 287(g) agreement, but with specific directions on what deputies working with ICE could and could not do. The Republican primary for governor will be a crowded race, with candidates including state Sen. Mark Baisley, state Rep. Scott Bottoms, Brighton Fire Chief Brycen Garrison, third-time candidate Jason Clark, former 5th Congressional District candidate Joshua Griffin, Stevan Gess, Jon Gray-Ginsberg, Alexander Mugatu and Jim Rundberg. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is the only Democrat to have announced his candidacy for governor so far. Other potential Democratic candidates include Secretary of State Jena Griswold, U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow and former U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar. A Republican has not been elected governor in Colorado since 2002. Mikesell did not respond to a Newsline request for comment ahead of publication. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Southern Colorado sheriffs ask community to speak before Denver lawmakers
(DENVER) — Senate Bill 25-047 is being presented to lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Two southern Colorado sheriffs and community members will speak on behalf of the bill. El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal and Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell wrote Senate Bill 25-047, which would replace SB 06-090, passed in 2006, prohibiting law enforcement from cooperating with ICE agents. SB25-047 would allow law enforcement to work with ICE and even hold people in jail until ICE agents can arrive. The bill was brought to lawmakers last year and was quickly shot down. This year, the bill is being reintroduced after President Donald Trump's mass deportation executive orders. The bill will be heard by the Senate at 2 p.m. Sheriffs Mikesell and Roybal are asking community members who can attend at the Colorado State Capitol building to testify in person before Denver lawmakers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
Deputies team up with ICE, HSI to serve warrants in Teller County
(TELLER COUNTY, Colo.) — The Teller County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) announced that its deputies teamed up with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to serve warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into a fraud case that involved fake vehicle titles. TCSO posted to its Facebook page on Friday, Jan. 31 just before 11:30 a.m., and wrote that deputies were executing search warrants on three locations in connection to the fraud case that Sheriff Jason Mikesell spoke about during a press conference held on Friday, Jan. 24. During last week's press conference, Sheriff Mikesell announced the recent arrests of four suspects that its office is now investigating with ICE. Two of the suspects were arrested on charges related to titles that were allegedly forged and brought into the Clerk's Office. 'And, through the very quick and smart thinking of our County Clerk and Recorder, Stephanie Kees, she was able to identify that they were actually forged,' Sheriff Mikesell said previously. On Friday, Jan. 31, TCSO said warrants were served at three locations in connection to the fraud case, including at the Olympia Hotel in Victor, and at two Cripple Creek addresses; one in the 330 block of West El Paso Avenue, west of CO-67 and another just five minutes up the road in the 130 block of Bison Street, near the intersection with Pikes Peak Avenue. 'Given the links within the case to illegal alien activity, TCSO was accompanied by ICE and Homeland Security Investigative Services,' the Facebook post read. 'We will release more information as the investigation develops.' The partnerships between local and federal agencies are vital in protecting our residents and we hope that through federal partnerships with our state and local partners, we can enhance the safety of all Colorado citizens. And we agree with Governor Polis that more federal agents would be of great assistance to enhance that working relationship. Teller County Sheriff's Office Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
