DENVER – On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado and the city of Denver, accusing them of disrupting federal efforts to implement immigration laws. This move forms part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign against cities and policies it perceives as promoting “sanctuary” practices.
The lawsuit, submitted to a federal court in Denver, asserts that both Colorado and its capital have enacted “sanctuary laws” that contravene the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The lawsuit emphasizes that the federal government holds a well-established and primary authority over immigration regulation.
Sanctuary policies and cities lack a precise definition, but they generally refer to limited cooperation with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Though ICE oversees immigration enforcement across the nation, it often seeks aid from state and local entities, especially in significant deportation operations. This includes requests for local law enforcement to inform ICE about individuals of interest and to detain them until federal agents can assume custody.
This legal action against Colorado and Denver follows previous lawsuits the Department of Justice has initiated against other cities like Chicago and Rochester, New York. The current lawsuit argues that Colorado’s sanctuary statutes enabled the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, to dominate an apartment complex in Aurora, a suburb of Denver.
Despite local leaders refuting claims that the gang has overrun large portions of the city, they did acknowledge disturbances at the apartment complex, including incidents involving individuals associated with Tren de Aragua. The defendants in Friday’s lawsuit include Democratic Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado Legislature, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and Attorney General Phil Weiser.
Conor Cahill, a spokesperson for Governor Polis, responded in an email, stating that Colorado does not classify itself as a sanctuary state and frequently collaborates with various law enforcement tiers. Cahill noted that Colorado abides by court rulings, though he refrained from assessing the lawsuit’s validity.
In the broader context, Republican lawmakers continue to press Democratic-led cities to align with the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Last month, mayors from Denver, Boston, New York, and Chicago were invited by Congress to address the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
In their testimonies, the mayors championed their cities as inclusive and safe, countering depictions of chaotic, lawless regions, and advocated for comprehensive immigration reform from Congress.