Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Denver’s acting city attorney sent letters Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, refusing to roll back laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Why it matters: The decision directly challenges Bondi’s demand last week for Colorado and Denver to submit a plan by Tuesday to scale back their “sanctuary” policies. Bondi also warned that state and local officials who refuse to comply could face prosecution.
What they’re saying: “Colorado, like many states, will not allow the federal government to commandeer our public safety resources,” Polis wrote, citing protections under the 10th Amendment. “We do not find any conflict between state and federal law in this matter.”
Denver’s acting city attorney, Katie McLoughlin, also said the city has “no intention” of changing its practices.
Context: Colorado and Denver leaders have rejected the “sanctuary” label but maintain policies that restrict local police from inquiring about immigration status. They still cooperate with federal authorities and ICE in specific cases.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston defended the city’s policies before a congressional panel in March.
The other side: In her letter to the governor and Johnston, Bondi accused their policies of “obstructing federal immigration enforcement” and “giving aliens cover to perpetrate crimes in our communities.”
She also cited former President Trump’s executive order threatening to withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that “obstruct” federal enforcement — a move Denver and other cities are already challenging in court.
Identical letters were also sent to dozens of other jurisdictions, including Boston, Seattle, and Portland. In a Fox News interview, Bondi warned: “You better be abiding by our federal policies and with our federal law enforcement, because if you’re not, we’re going to come after you.”
What we’re watching: The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in May against Colorado and Denver over their immigration policies, and the case remains ongoing.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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