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DENVER, CO – Colorado Democrats today unveiled a new legislative package to safeguard Coloradans’ constitutional rights, support immigrant communities and build trust in public services.
Two new bills will be introduced in the Colorado House of Representatives in the coming weeks and SB26-005 will be heard in the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon. SJR26-006, the Immigrants’ Rights Resolution, was heard on the Colorado Senate floor this morning and passed on a party-line vote of 20 to 12.
“Federal law enforcement is engaging in dangerous, unlawful immigration enforcement tactics that are perpetuating fear in our communities and, in some cases, even death. Enough is enough,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor of forthcoming legislation to strengthen protections. “Across the country, U.S. citizens are being detained and children are being used as bait to lure parents into detention centers, all while federal law enforcement completely disregards our constitutional rights. In Colorado, we’ll defend and uphold your constitutional rights with new legislation aimed at shoring up privacy protections and law enforcement transparency.”
“People have long come to our country for the promise of a better life and the guarantee of equal treatment under the law,” said Sen. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB26-005, SJR26-006, and forthcoming legislation to strengthen protections. “I’m proud to sponsor legislation to protect our constitutional rights, create legal remedies when those rights are violated, and publicly affirm our commitment to Colorado’s immigrant communities. In particular, Senate Bill 5 stands for the basic principles that government agents must follow the law like everyone else and that there should be legal remedies when constitutional rights are violated. This legislation reaffirms the civil rights of all Coloradans.”
Last year, Democratic lawmakers passed SB25-276 to strengthen existing data privacy protections and clarify constitutional protections for immigrants. Forthcoming legislation sponsored by Representatives Velasco and García and Senators Jodeh and Weissman would build upon legislative efforts by:
Increasing accountability and transparency by enforcing violations when personal information is shared unlawfully and informing individuals whose information has been shared with federal officials;
Requiring reporting on demographic populations in immigration detention centers and regular environmental and health inspections of centers;
Establishing protections from deportation when an individual is in transit to or from a health care facility, school, child care center, court or place of worship.
“Over the past few months, ICE activity has left many Coloradans living in fear,” said Sen. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, sponsor of SJR26-006 and forthcoming legislation to strengthen protections. “Our entire community is harmed when fear replaces trust. As legislators, we have a responsibility to make sure that Coloradans of all backgrounds feel safe. This legislation is about leading with compassion, protecting our constitutional rights, and ensuring Colorado is a place where every family can live with dignity and safety.”
“Immigrants and U.S. citizens who look like me are being met with violence from federal law enforcement, and they’re skipping work, school and medical appointments because they’re afraid of being detained,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, sponsor of forthcoming legislation to strengthen protections. “In Colorado, we won’t stand idly by while the federal government disregards our constitutional rights. Soon, we’re unveiling new legislation to strengthen protections and push back against the egregious federal overreach we’re witnessing across the country.”
“Under the Trump Administration, we are witnessing the conflation of immigration status, dissent, and criminality,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, sponsor of SB26-005. “Our government is telling us not to believe what we see with our own eyes. It is up to us to act boldly and bravely, create pathways of real accountability for those who violate our fundamental rights and freedoms, and ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect in Colorado.”
“We are a nation of immigrants, and at a moment when fear and division are being weaponized, Colorado must stand firmly for civil liberties and human dignity, " said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, sponsor of SB26-005. "When federal immigration agents violate someone’s Fourth Amendment rights, as we've witnessed in Minnesota, there must be accountability. The Constitution applies to everyone in Colorado, and this bill creates a clear cause of action so that no agency, no matter how powerful, is above the law."
SB26-005, sponsored by Senators Weissman and Gonzales and Representatives Mabrey and Zokaie, would uphold constitutional rights by allowing Coloradans harmed during an immigration enforcement encounter with federal officers to pursue legal action against them. SB26-005 establishes a state court cause of action for damages arising from violations of the U.S. Constitution, and those found responsible for such violations could be held liable.
“What we’re witnessing across America at the hands of federal agents is a blatant disregard for our rights,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of SB26-005 and forthcoming legislation to encourage government accountability and help build public trust in law enforcement. “Children as young as five years old are being detained and separated from their families, and the inhumane tactics of federal law enforcement are causing serious harm, injury, and in some cases even death. In Colorado, we will safeguard our rights and work in partnership with law enforcement to ensure accountability. We must stand now to protect our communities from the erosion of civil liberties levied by the federal government.
“Alex Pretti and Renee Good were U.S. citizens killed by federal law enforcement while engaging in constitutionally protected activity,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of forthcoming legislation to encourage government accountability and help build public trust in law enforcement. “We should not have to weigh our lives to protest our government in the United States of America. Law enforcement works for the people, and new legislation we’re carrying this session will help foster stronger public trust in those who swore an oath to protect us.”
Forthcoming legislation, sponsored by Representatives Froelich and Zokaie and Senators Jodeh and Weissman, would encourage government accountability and help build public trust in law enforcement. Under the bill, any law enforcement officer working on behalf of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies must wear identification and would be prohibited from covering their face. This includes the agency name or initials and their identification number on the outermost layer of clothing. If law enforcement officers refuse or fail to properly identify themselves, they could be held liable for impersonating a peace officer. The bill also requires law enforcement to receive training on Colorado’s immigration laws to ensure they enforce state laws properly.
“America was founded on the shared beliefs of freedom and fairness, and that must never be taken for granted,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of SJR26-006. “As federal agents attack peaceful protesters, unlawfully detain U.S. citizens and deport people without due process, we must stand now to defend our constitutional rights.”
“The harsh enforcement tactics of federal agents put local law enforcement and our community members exercising their constitutional rights at risk,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, sponsor of SJR26-006. “This resolution calls on our federal government to uphold our civil rights and constitutional protections.”
The Immigrants' Rights Resolution, sponsored by Senator Jodeh and Weissman and Representatives Joseph and Ricks, calls on the federal government to reaffirm its obligation to uphold civil rights and constitutional protections. The resolution demands the federal government reaffirm civil rights for all, end anonymous enforcement tactics, and protect access to education, health care, and civic participation. SJR26-006 advocates for modernized, humane federal immigration reform and supports state-level measures that safeguard constitutional rights.