By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice
GREELEY – There was a time, Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams recalls, when local law enforcement in Colorado had the capacity to better work with federal immigration officers.
It all ended when Gov. Jared Polis signed Democrat-supported House Bill 1124 into law in 2019.
“What this law said was I cannot work with ICE,” Reams told those gathered Wednesday for a town hall meeting here at the Weld County administration offices.
A summary of HB 19-1124 indicates it prohibits “a law enforcement officer from arresting or detaining an individual solely on the basis of a civil immigration detainer.”
At issue for many in Weld County is whether or not the county is a sanctuary to illegal immigrants, regardless of whether the state has become one. A list of “sanctuary cities”, which includes Weld County, has scrolled during various Fox News programming. Also, Reams indicated Weld County is included on a map at the Center for Immigration Studies. Mesa County also complained Newsmax has a list it has reported. All three lists have included errantly placed entities.
“We are not a sanctuary county,” Reams said.
But, those attending the town hall largely indicate they support some variety of a written declaration to indicate the county is a non-sanctuary for illegal immigrants, much like Mesa County and other jurisdictions have done.
“It is important to say it, but also to put it in writing,” District 3 Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine said. “There’s no reason we cannot do a resolution.”
As much as 5% of the Weld County jail population is comprised of illegal immigrants.
“They enter our country illegally and keep committing illegal acts,” Reams said. “I can hold them accountable for violation of criminal law they have committed in Colorado.”
He empathized with frustration some may have toward laws that may make them feel helpless, and said: “we are helpless.”
One resident of the county asked commissioners to define if Weld County is not a sanctuary, why they would not just put such in writing.
“How do you proclaim something you are not, that you already are not,” said Kevin Ross, the chair of Weld County’s board of commissioners.
Added Reams: “Ultimately, elections have consequences and we need more Republicans in the State House.”
Resident Bob Leisy asked commissioners to research what some counties have done to proclaim their status as a non-sanctuary county and be removed from lists saying otherwise.
“Weld County is designated as a sanctuary county,” he said, pointing back to an online source he did not identify.
Reams committed to prevent Weld County from being a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, and committed that he’d even get a tattoo saying that, if he had to.
“I don’t have any tattoos, but if I have to, guess I’ll get one with you,” District 2 Weld County Commissioner Scott James said.
Some in the audience portrayed commissioners’ reluctance to act as an effort to retain the funding such an action could cost the county. In other words, the commissioners are riding the fence to preserve federal funding.
It is a matter of making a clear statement as a county, and needing elected officials to do so, Reams said, defining the position of an audience of about 75 residents.
“What you all are wanting is a sign that says we don’t feed the bears,” he said. “I don’t disagree. By the time the bus gets here it is too late.”