The Denver Post reports that Gov. Jared Polis and Denver’s acting city attorney fired off letters to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, rejecting demands to unwind Colorado’s and Denver’s limits on cooperation with civil immigration enforcement. Bondi warned officials could face criminal charges if they refuse. Polis denied Colorado is a “sanctuary state” and leaned on the Tenth Amendment to argue the feds cannot commandeer state and local resources.
Denver’s lawyer defended the city’s “welcoming city” ordinance as legal and not changing any time soon. Meanwhile, DOJ has sued Colorado and Denver over these policies, even as another federal judge swatted down a similar suit against Illinois and Chicago. Polis’ spokesperson called the “sanctuary” label wrong; Denver’s spokesman said the city “won’t be bullied.”
The Bullet Point Brief
- Bondi to Colorado and Denver: repeal limits on civil‑immigration cooperation or officials “may be subject to criminal charges.” The state and city told DOJ to take a hike.
- Polis denies the “sanctuary state” label and argues anti‑commandeering protects Colorado from being drafted into federal immigration work.
- Colorado’s stance: share info and resources only in criminal probes or when a judge requires it. Everything else, hands off.
- Denver’s “welcoming city” ordinance stays. City attorney says it is legal and they have no intention of changing practices.
- DOJ is suing Colorado and Denver, but a judge already tossed a parallel case against Illinois and Chicago as a Tenth Amendment end‑run. Fight’s on.
My Bottom Line
Governor Jared “Gaslight” Polis is at it again. He thinks if he keeps chanting “we’re not a sanctuary state,” reality will bend to his will. The Gov is no Jedi, and we are not addle‑minded stormtroopers. The state’s statutes wall off cooperation with federal civil‑immigration enforcement unless it is a criminal case or a judge forces it. Polis waves the Tenth Amendment like a magic wand and calls it “no conflict.” I call it ducking federal law with a lawyered smile. Count me unconvinced.
If the Governor will not follow federal statute, why should Weld blindly salute every state edict that blocks our deputies from doing their jobs? That is how the social contract goes from cracked to shattered. It is well past time for Weld County to flex its home‑rule charter and pass ordinances that free our law enforcement and county staff to cooperate with federal agents, share information, and obey federal law without state‑level handcuffs. Denver can posture. Weld should protect our people.
