The following statement can be attributed to Tim Macdonald, ACLU of Colorado Legal Director:
“It is clear, with the re-election of former President Donald Trump, that feelings of fear and uncertainty are spreading through immigrant communities across the country. Trump has promised to use totalitarian tactics to carry out the largest mass detention and deportation program in our nation’s history, including launching what he calls ‘Operation Aurora’ to deport immigrants en masse, including from places in Colorado.
“There are federal and state constitutional protections, as well as Colorado laws in place to protect our immigrant neighbors, and this is the time to remind Coloradans that ACLU of Colorado is ready to fight to protect those rights for all.
“State law is clear in prohibiting certain kinds of collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. State and local governments cannot enter agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other agencies to detain individuals for federal civil immigration purposes. State law also forbids state and local governments from contracting with private companies to operate immigration detention facilities.
“Additionally, local law enforcement cannot arrest or detain someone based on civil immigration detainers and cannot make civil immigration arrests. Probation officers and staff also cannot provide information to federal immigration authorities.
“We are ready to fight any attack by the Trump administration on immigrants’ rights — and we will not be doing it alone. ACLU of Colorado has the full support of our federated network. We are working with our colleagues at ACLU National to build a civil rights firewall to protect immigrants to the fullest extent possible and ensure that the Trump administration can’t hijack state resources to carry out its draconian policies. We also will join our partners at the state level who have deep expertise in immigration law to help protect the rights of our immigrant neighbors.
“Local law enforcement must prioritize public safety for all, including Coloradans that happen to be born outside of the United States. If they overstep their boundaries and violate state law in collaborating with ICE or violate the U.S. or Colorado constitutions in their zeal to appease President Trump, they risk severely straining public trust, cooperation, and exposing themselves to legal liability.”
