Colorado Senate Democrats passed a bill on Monday aimed at providing a series of new legal protections to illegal immigrants in the state to shield them from the Trump administration’s ongoing mass-deportation efforts.
Senate Bill 25-276 would add new limitations on where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could operate in the state, prohibit local governments from sharing key information with ICE, and make it easier for noncitizens to get their guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges vacated so they could more easily obtain legal status.
The bill passed the state Senate on a near-party-line vote, 22-13, with one Democrat joining Republicans in opposition; state Senator Kyle Mullica said he needed more time to understand a series of proposed amendments, according to news reports.
The proposal is intended to build on existing protections for illegal immigrants that are already enshrined in Colorado law. Under current state law, for example, state agencies are barred from disclosing personal information to ICE that isn’t publicly available — things like birthdays, addresses, and immigration status. Under SB 276, local governments would not be able to share that information with immigration authorities either. Public child-care centers, schools, and health-care facilities would also be prohibited from sharing personal identifying information with ICE.
The bill would prohibit immigration agents from accessing non-public spaces in jails, hospitals, libraries, schools, and child-care centers without a warrant, a common legal tactic to stymie ICE. Supporters of ICE’s efforts note that there is no legal mechanism in place for judges to sign criminal warrants for administrative immigration proceedings.
The bill also:
- Bars jail officers from delaying the release of immigrants who’ve posted bond on the basis of immigration detainers or immigration enforcement operations;
- Extends a pathway for noncitizens to petition to have their guilty pleas to class-three misdemeanors vacated;
- Prohibits National Guard units or military forces from other states from entering Colorado without the governor’s permission, unless they are acting on orders from the federal government; and
- Repeals requirements that illegal immigrants submit affidavits that they intend to pursue legal status in order to qualify for in-state tuition or a driver’s license.
Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocates praised the bill. “We’re in unprecedented times where people are being unjustly targeted, incarcerated, removed, and deported, and we sit in a position where we might be a l to push back and help out,” said state Senator Jessie Danielson, a Democrat, according to the Colorado Newsline.
Republicans contend the bill would undermine federal immigration efforts and could be illegal. “The bill restricts cooperation between state, local entities and federal immigration authorities, potentially obstructing that of which is the province of the federal government — immigration laws,” Republican Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said, according to the Newsline.
The bill’s prime Senate sponsors are Democrats Julie Gonzales and Mike Weissman. Its prime state House sponsors are Democrats Elizabeth Velasco and Lorena Garcia.
The bill now moves to the House as the state’s legislative session winds down.
The immigration bill is the latest hard-left measure pursued by Colorado Democrats this year. Democrats have also promoted a bill to allow taxpayer-funded abortions for poor women, a bill that would punish parents in custody disputes for “deadnaming” their transgender children, and a proposal to fine gas stations up to $20,000 if they don’t put stickers on their pumps warning consumers about their contribution to climate change.