In this class action lawsuit, the ACLU of Colorado contends that El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder violates Colorado law by refusing, at the request of federal immigraiton officials to release prisoners who have posted bond, completed their sentence, or otherwise resolved their criminal case.
According to the ACLU lawsuit, Sheriff Elder has unlawfully imprisoned dozens of individuals for days, weeks, and even months, without a warrant, without probable cause of a crime, and without any other valid legal authority, solely on the ground that ICE suspects that they are subject to deportation for civil immigration violations.
Sheriff Elder relies on ICE detainers, which are not warrants and are not issued or signed by a judicial officer.
The ACLU’s clients, Saul Cisneros and Rut Chavez, have been held in the El Paso County Jail as pretrial detainees since November. Shortly after Cisneros was arrested, his daughter posted his bond, set at $2,000 by the county court. But the jail refused to release him because of a detainer request from ICE. Similarly, Chavez’s pastor and his wife have been told that due to an “ICE hold,” the jail will not release Chavez on the $1000 bond set by the El Paso County District Court.
According to the complaint, almost two hundred prisoners were subject to ICE holds in the El Paso County Jail in 2017, and the jail labels more than four dozen prisoners as “ICE holds” on any given day.
The ACLU asks the court to rule that Colorado sheriffs cannot rely on ICE documents that are not signed by a judge as grounds to keep inmates in jail after they have posted bond or otherwise resolved their criminal case. The action seeks a declaratory jdugment and a preliminary and permanent injunction on behalf of all current and future prisoners who are the subject of ICE detainers. In a separately-litigated companion case, Mr. Cisneros seeks monetary compensation for the several months that he illegally imprisoned after his daughter posted his bond.
Update: The court issued a preliminary and then a permanent injunction prohibiting Sheriff Elder from holding prisoners on the basis of ICE detainers or ICE administrative warrants. Sheriff Elder appealed. In 2019, while the appeal was pending, the Colorado Legislature enacted a statute that codified the Cisneros ruling, thus prohibiting all Colorado sheriffs from holding prisoners on the basis of ICE documents that are not signed by a judge. C.R.S. §§ 24-76.6-101-02. The Court of Appeals then dismissed Sheriff Elder’s appeal as moot.
ACLU news releases:
- "ACLU lawsuit: El Paso County Sheriff illegally holding prisoners for ICE," ACLU News Release, February 27, 2018
- "Judge rules El Paso County Sheriff must stop illegally holding prisoners for ICE," ACLU News Release, March 20, 2018
- "Judge rules Colorado sheriffs have no legal authority to hold prisoners for ICE," ACLU News Release, December 7, 2018
Media:
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“Lawsuit accuses El Paso sheriff of illegally holding ICE detainees,” The Denver Post, February 28, 2018
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“ACLU sues El Paso County Sheriff's Office, saying it illegally keeps suspected undocumented immigrants behind bars," Gazette, February 27, 2018
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“ACLU files lawsuit against El Paso County Sheriff claiming illegal ICE holds,” 11 News, February 27, 2018
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“Lawsuit: Colorado Sheriff's Policy Violates Immigrant Rights,” CBS News, February 27, 2018
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“ACLU suit accuses El Paso County sheriff of illegally detaining prisoners for ICE,” Colorado Independent, February 27, 2018
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“Judge rules El Paso County can't hold undocumented immigrants if they post bond,” 11 News, March 20, 2018
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“El Paso County can’t hold inmates on ICE detainers after bond is paid, judge rules,” The Denver Post, March 20, 2018
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“Judge: El Paso County sheriff can't detain illegal immigrants solely at ICE's request,” Colorado Politics, March 20, 2018
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“El Paso County sheriff can't hold inmates for ICE after they post bond, judge rules,” 7 News, March 20, 2018
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“Colorado sheriff will appeal ruling that prevents holding prisoners illegally for ICE,” 9 News, March 22, 2018
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“El Paso County sheriff vows to fight judge’s order blocking him from holding inmates for ICE,” Colorado Independent, March 26, 2018
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“CO Supreme Court denies El Paso sheriff’s appeal in ICE detainer case,” Colorado Independent, April 12, 2018
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“Rechazan apelación de alguacil por detenciones a inmigrantes,” debate, April 12, 2018
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“Alguacil de Colorado pidió detener inmigrantes solo por petición del ICE. Lo rechazaron,” Telemundo, April 13, 2018
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“Two Sheriffs With Two Different ICE Policies Say They Want Clarity From A Higher Court,” CPR News, October 29, 2018
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“El Paso County sheriff can't honor ICE hold on inmates eligible for release, judge rules,” Gazette, December 7, 2018
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“Judge Bars El Paso County Sheriff From Holding Inmates for ICE,” Westword, December 7, 2018
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“Judge: Sheriff can’t hold people for immigration authorities,” 9 News, December 7, 2018
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“Una corte en Colorado prohíbe la retención de indocumentados en cárceles locales,” Telemundo, December 7, 2018
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“El Paso Co. Attorney to appeal ACLU lawsuit ruling prohibiting Sheriff from holding inmates for ICE,” KOAA News, August 19, 2019