By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
Whether Gov. Jared Polis means what he says is the subject of a recent joint letter from three Republican members of the U.S. House to the governor.
The statement stands in opposition to three pieces of legislation law enforcement often say tells a different story.
The letter, authored on U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans letterhead, and additionally signed by U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Jeff Crank, takes the governor’s comments at face value.
“This is undoubtedly welcome news to Coloradans, who have watched the sanctuary state policies you signed negatively impact our state — from the Tren de Aragua takeover of apartments in Aurora last year to our local schools and hospitals struggling to keep up with the influx of immigrants,” the letter continues.
The letter asks Polis, a Democrat, to lead a repeal of the three measures which created a sanctuary for illegal aliens, and which largely were passed on party-line Democratic votes in three consecutive sessions.
House Bill 19-1174 prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from complying with federal immigration detainers, they say. Called the “Out-of-network Health Care Services Act”, it passed with just 13 lawmakers opposing the measure, including only four Republicans in the Senate.
Senate Bill 21-131 prevented the sharing of “non-public personal identifying information” with federal immigration authorities, except as directed by courts. Called the “Protect Personal Identifying Information Kept By State Act”, SB21-131 passed with two-thirds of lawmakers in support.
HB23-1100 prohibits state and local agencies from entering into a contract, receiving payment or paying for an immigration detention facility in Colorado, they say. The measure, called the “Restrict Government Involvement In Immigration Detention Act”, was also supported by about two-thirds of the legislature.
“These laws hamper and often outright prevent public safety investigations from being opened, which degrades the ability of law enforcement to investigate cases where immigration status might be a factor,” the letter concludes. “If you are genuine in the your intention to increase cooperation between Colorado law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to help remove dangerous illegal immigrants from our streets, we ask that you take immediate actions like the ones described.”
Absent of action to lead a repeal of the three laws, they say, Polis’ words are “empty and politically-motivated rhetoric”.