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DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to protect civil rights and Colorado’s immigrant communities. SB25-276 would strengthen existing data privacy protections and clarify constitutional protections for immigrants.
“Colorado is stronger when we all can contribute to our economy without fear,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “The Trump administration’s attacks on our civil liberties have sparked chaos among our immigrant communities – parents are afraid to pick up their children from day care, workers are scared to show up to their jobs. This fear doesn’t just hurt our families, but our entire community and Colorado’s economy. We’re taking steps today to strengthen Colorado laws around personal data sharing and reaffirm our existing protections to ensure due process for all, regardless of immigration status.”
“Our bill safeguards the civil and constitutional rights of everyone in Colorado,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Between carrying out sweeping, untargeted deportations that have included American citizens and defying federal court orders, the Trump administration’s immigration overreach has struck fear in Colorado communities. To help protect everyone, we’re limiting the sharing of personal data while clarifying protections in public spaces so we all can participate in our economy and communities.”
This legislation would build on existing data privacy law by prohibiting public employees from sharing personally-identifying information related to immigration status with federal immigration enforcement. The bill would repeal outdated affidavit requirements to access a Colorado driver’s license or in-state tuition to protect data from unwarranted collection by federal agencies.
The bill would clarify protections for immigrants at public locations, including hospitals, schools, public institutions of higher education, public health care facilities, libraries, and public child care centers. It reaffirms current law that the continued detention of an individual after bond is posted and processed is considered an unconstitutional and warrantless arrest. Additionally, the bill would limit the use of local and state resources for federal immigration enforcement to those situations explicitly required by law.