This story first appeared in a Colorado Community Media newspaper. Support CCM’s neighborhood news.
Douglas and El Paso counties are suing Colorado over laws that prevent local law enforcement agencies from working with federal immigration officers, arguing the ban hurts public safety.
Two laws, passed by state lawmakers in 2019 and 2023, prevent police from being able to arrest or detain people for civil immigration violations, as well as share information or have agreements with federal immigration agencies.
“We see it as the duty of the county to push back against these state laws that prohibit us from working with federal authorities to keep Douglas County and our communities safe,” Douglas County Commissioner George Teal said, flanked by other county officials in a news conference on Monday.
Douglas County Undersheriff David Walcher said the laws tie the hands of deputies and hinder enforcement, noting the sheriff’s office has the ability to work with every other federal agency, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“What we need is communication and cooperation and, probably most important, information,” Walcher said. “I’d really like to see more information sharing so we can act upon what we learn from our federal partners and they can learn from us.”
Walcher said the sheriff’s office should be able to share public information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including jail rosters and information pertinent to public safety.
“Shame on the State of Colorado for telling Douglas County and Sheriff (Darren) Weekly how to run his jail,” he said. “If the State of Colorado wants to enhance public safety in our communities, they need to enhance penalties for things like car thefts, crimes with deadly weapons, people who elude the police. That helps us.”
County officials couldn’t say how many migrants are in the county. Teal claimed state laws prevent the county from knowing a total count.
But Commissioner Abe Laydon suggested that some of the migrants, initially dropped off by officials in Texas in Denver, may have moved across county lines. Some 40,000 migrants have been bused to Denver and offered assistance by city agencies, according to Denver.
“Thinking that 40,000 people can be bused here and not somehow bleed into Douglas County is not common sense,” he said.