Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Immigration enforcement

Supreme Court Reasserts Control Over Rogue Lower Court Rulings on ICE
National, Approved, The Federalist

Supreme Court Reasserts Control Over Rogue Lower Court Rulings on ICE

By Shawn Fleetwood | The Federalist ‘Consistency and neutrality are hallmarks of good judging, and in my view, we abide by those enduring judicial values in this case by granting the stay.’ The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a win for the Trump administration in its bid to enforce immigration laws in California on Monday. The ruling is the latest in a string of SCOTUS orders revoking overreaching injunctions issued by rogue lower court judges. In its 6-3 decision, the high court placed a temporary stay on a lower court injunction that prohibited Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from carrying out deportation operations in Los Angeles, California. The injunction was issued in July by Biden-appointed District Judge Maame E. Frimpong, who argued that plaintiffs would likely ...
How ballot initiatives play a role in Colorado policymaking
Colorado Politics, Approved, State

How ballot initiatives play a role in Colorado policymaking

By Colorado Politics For more than a century, Colorado voters have used the ballot box not just to elect leaders but also to make laws, shaping the state’s most defining policies through citizen-led initiatives. Those two avenues of policymaking — the first by legislators, the second by citizens — yet represent another point of tension that is inherent to America’s grand experiment in representative democracy. At times, it leads to reaction and counter-reaction, both within and outside the state Capitol. The threat of a ballot measure, for one, can prompt legislators to act. Indeed, some see the initiative process as a counterbalance to the Colorado legislature, serving as a check on state policymakers, at times overriding their will. Others prefer the legislative process, with...
Immigration arrest lawsuit dismissed against Mesa County deputy
Fox31, Approved, Local

Immigration arrest lawsuit dismissed against Mesa County deputy

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — A lawsuit filed against a Mesa County Sheriff’s Office deputy who may have shared information with federal agents that led to a 19-year-old Utah student’s arrest has been dropped. The case was filed by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office after Mesa County Deputy Andrew Zwinck allegedly shared details of a traffic stop in a group message that included members of Homeland Security Investigations, leading to the detention of Caroline Dias-Goncalves on June 5. Previous reporting: Mesa County Sheriff’s Office investigation finds ‘disturbing’ messages in drug chat Dias-Goncalves, 19, has no criminal record and was attending the University of Utah on a merit scholarship. In Colorado, local and state law enforcement and peace office...
City of Denver Moves to Block Trump Lawsuit on Immigration Cooperation
Local, Approved, The Denver Gazette

City of Denver Moves to Block Trump Lawsuit on Immigration Cooperation

By Julia Fennell | The Denver Gazette Denver is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration over the city's "sanctuary" policies. The motion, filed on Monday in a U.S. district court, insisted that the laws of both Colorado and Denver do not impede federal immigration enforcement and that “the federal government has no right or ability to compel local municipalities to help it achieve its political objectives.” “We’re not sure if they don’t understand the laws or just don’t want to follow them, but Denver has never violated federal statute,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said in a statement. “We’re not changing our laws, we’re not changing our values, and we’re not backing down from this meritless lawsuit. The federal government will not be successful in ...
Trump Launches Nationwide Review of All Visa Holders for Enforcement
National, Approved, US News

Trump Launches Nationwide Review of All Visa Holders for Enforcement

By Associated Press | US News The Trump administration says it’s reviewing more than 55 million foreigners who have valid U.S. visas for any violations that could lead to deportation. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Thursday it is reviewing more than 55 million people who have valid U.S. visas for any violations that could lead to deportation, part of a growing crackdown on foreigners who are permitted to be in the United States. In a written answer to a question from The Associated Press, the State Department said all U.S. visa holders, which can include tourists from many countries, are subject to “continuous vetting,” with an eye toward any indication they could be ineligible for permission to enter or stay in the United States. Should such information be fou...
Polis Rejects DOJ Label as Sanctuary State and Defends Local Law
State, Approved, CBS Colorado

Polis Rejects DOJ Label as Sanctuary State and Defends Local Law

By Jennifer McRae | CBS News Colorado The Justice Department put 11 other states on its list besides Colorado — California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. It also included Baltimore County, Maryland; Cook County, Illinois; San Diego County, California; and San Francisco County, California, along with 18 cities from Seattle to Philadelphia. The letter states that a response to the letter must be submitted by Aug. 19 that "confirms your commitment to complying with federal law and identifies the immediate incentives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies, and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement." Gov. Polis' Office said in a statement to CBS Co...
Colorado judge blocks ICE from courthouse arrests, raising questions of state vs federal authority
Colorado Public Radio, Approved, Local

Colorado judge blocks ICE from courthouse arrests, raising questions of state vs federal authority

By Chuck Murphy | CPR News Another Colorado judge has ordered federal immigration agents to stop making civil immigration violation arrests in courthouses. Amanda C. Hopkins, chief judge of the 12th Judicial District for six south central Colorado counties, issued an administrative order Tuesday barring anyone from making civil detentions in the district’s courthouses. “Effecting civil arrests against people attending to court matters has several consequences to the court’s constitutionally-mandated administration of justice,” Hopkins wrote in the order. “Civil arrests have a chilling effect not only on criminal defendants’ presence at their hearings, but also on victims reporting crimes.” Colorado law prohibits arrests for civil violations at courthouses: “[A] person shal...
Federal Government Threatens Colorado Over Sanctuary Laws
Approved, DENVER7, National

Federal Government Threatens Colorado Over Sanctuary Laws

By Óscar Contreras | Denver7 Attorney General Pam Bondi says in letter Colorado “engages in sanctuary policies that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States”. DENVER — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday threatened Gov. Jared Polis with legal action and the pulling of federal funds if he fails to eliminate state laws the Trump administration believes impede with the president’s plans for mass deportations. The demand letter, which was also addressed to Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, identified Colorado as a jurisdiction that “engages in sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States.” It requests that Gov. Polis submit a ...
Colorado’s Top Lawyer Is Breaking the Law He Swore to Uphold
Fox News, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado’s Top Lawyer Is Breaking the Law He Swore to Uphold

By Hans A. von Spakovsky | Commentary, Fox News Mesa County sheriff removes two deputies from drug task force over information sharing with ICE. By suing Mesa County Deputy Sheriff Alexander Zwink for sharing information about an illegal alien with federal authorities, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is blatantly violating federal law. The Justice Department has already filed a lawsuit to go after the state law he was enforcing, which violates a specific provision of federal immigration law and the U.S. Constitution. Not only should that state law be declared null and void by a federal court, but the two Colorado deputies and their supervisors who’ve been disciplined for this should be immediately reinstated and commended for their work. All of this arises out of Zwink...
Over 100,000 Americans seek to join ICE as border crisis deepens
The Epoch Times, Approved, National

Over 100,000 Americans seek to join ICE as border crisis deepens

By Naveen Athrappully | Epoch Times New recruits can get up to $50,000 in bonuses and benefits such as student loan forgiveness. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has received more than 100,000 job applications from Americans, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Aug. 12. “Our country is calling you to serve at ICE. In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. “This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.” Applications began pouring in after the ...