The United States government has sued Colorado and the city of Denver for alleged 'sanctuary' policies that, according to the Department of Justice, interfere with federal efforts to enforce immigration laws. This move represents the latest action by President Donald Trump's administration to reinforce its stance against what it considers sanctuary cities and policies.
Republicans in Congress have been pressuring officials in Democrat-run cities to cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration control agenda. Recently, the mayors of Denver, Boston, New York, and Chicago appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, defending the hospitality of their communities and asking Congress for a review of immigration laws.
The lawsuit states that Colorado and Denver have enacted sanctuary laws that violate the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. The Department of Justice has taken similar legal action against other cities, such as Chicago and Rochester, New York, aiming to limit local cooperation with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In response to the accusations, local representatives have denied Trump's claims regarding the presence of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in the city, although they acknowledge intimidation situations in some apartment complexes. Among the defendants are Governor Jared Polis, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and State Attorney General Phil Weiser.
In light of these accusations, Conor Cahill, a spokesman for Polis, has assured that Colorado is not a sanctuary state and that they regularly cooperate with various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Cahill also indicated that they will respect any court decision that invalidates any Colorado law in this context.
