After a year of President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation program, Democratic lawmakers in Colorado are gearing up to introduce a set of bills aimed at regulating immigration enforcement and detention facilities. These bills also aim to strengthen a law that Gov. Jared Polis attempted to circumvent last summer.
The first bill in this package, Senate Bill 5, was introduced on the first day of the legislative session. It would allow Coloradans injured during immigration enforcement actions to sue federal officers, aligning with a growing trend in states nationwide.
Senator Mike Weissman, an Aurora Democrat, emphasized the urgency of providing a remedy for the increasingly violent tactics employed by federal agents. The two other bills in the package are still in the drafting phase and are expected to be introduced in the state House soon.
One of these bills will enhance legislation passed last year to restrict how local officials share information with federal immigration authorities. It will require state agencies to publicly disclose data requests from immigration officials and notify individuals whose data is being sought.
The third bill will focus on tightening regulations on ICE’s detention center in Aurora and any future facilities opened by the agency. Additionally, it will address the issue of local law enforcement wearing masks during immigration enforcement activities.
These legislative efforts are a response to the immigration crackdown that has intensified since President Trump’s return to office. The bills aim to protect immigrants’ rights and ensure transparency in immigration enforcement actions in Colorado.
Other Legislation Introduced on Opening Day
In addition to the immigration bills, Democratic leadership unveiled several other bills on the first day of the session. These include the Worker Protection Act, which aims to facilitate union contract negotiations, and a bill to suppress records of individuals who have changed their names.
Furthermore, legislation was introduced to address issues such as firearm removal under the red flag law, carbon emissions reduction, electricity provision for lower-income individuals, and price transparency for online services and goods.
The introduction of these bills reflects the Democratic majority’s priorities and commitment to addressing a wide range of issues affecting Colorado residents.
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