By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette
Colorado’s two most populous cities are separated by fewer than 60 miles, but when it comes to their approach to immigration law enforcement, the mayors of Colorado Springs and Denver stand much farther apart.
To some extent, both mayors are merely articulating their respective cities’ positions, though the crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration has put the spotlight on their contrasting views.
On the one hand, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has repeatedly defended his city’s response to the illegal immigration crisis, and, at one point, suggested civil disobedience as a proper action against a federal mass deportation program.
On the other hand, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade welcomed a major ICE raid in his city, adding he hopes to see more. He also maintained the city’s “duty” is to its residents first.
Denver: A ‘welcoming city’
Denver’s identity as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction is rooted in several policies approved over the last several years.
Mayor Michael Hancock, for example, created a legal defense fund for immigrants.
In 2017, the Denver City Council passed the Public Safety Enforcement Priorities Act, which limits the city’s involvement in immigration enforcement and the use of city funds and other resources for such. It also restricts the city’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), unless a federal judge issues a warrant.
Shortly thereafter, state lawmakers passed a bill to protect individuals from having to reveal their immigration status to law enforcement.