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“Sanctuary or Surrender?”: Colorado’s Immigration Law Sparks Firestorm Over Public Safety and State Sovereignty
By Khadija Khan | FNF News | June 2, 2025
In 2019, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 19-1124 into law, effectively transforming the state into a de facto “sanctuary state.” At the time, Polis framed the law as a shield for immigrant communities, declaring that Colorado would stand as “a place of opportunity and fairness.” But six years later, that same legislation is at the center of a growing public backlash as critics blame it for weakening law enforcement, enabling crime, and alienating federal agencies.
With crime rates rising and immigration enforcement strained, HB 19-1124 has become a political fault line not only in Colorado but in national debates over immigration, law, and order.
What House Bill 19-1124 Actually Says
House Bill 19-1124, passed by the Democrat-majority legislature and signed by Governor Polis in May 2019, does the following:
- Prohibits local law enforcement agencies from holding individuals on ICE detainers unless there is a judicial warrant.
- Forbids law enforcement from notifying ICE of release dates or sharing personal information about detainees, unless required by law.
- Bars police from arresting individuals based solely on their immigration status or civil immigration infractions.
The bill’s supporters argue it protects immigrants’ constitutional rights, prevents racial profiling, and encourages undocumented residents to report crimes without fear of deportation.
But opponents say the law has made it impossible for law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities, creating gaps in enforcement that dangerous criminals can exploit.
Real Consequences or Political Rhetoric?
According to data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, violent crime in the state increased by 24% between 2019 and 2023, with significant upticks in homicides, aggravated assaults, and property crimes.
Critics of the law point to several high-profile cases involving undocumented immigrants who were released under sanctuary protections and later committed violent crimes:
- In 2021, ICE issued multiple detainers for an undocumented man arrested for domestic violence in Aurora. The jail, following state law, released him. Two weeks later, he was arrested for stabbing a 22-year-old woman during a home invasion.
- In 2023, a suspected gang member in Denver—previously deported twice—was released after a non-violent drug charge. ICE was not notified. He was later arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that killed two teenagers.
“These tragedies weren’t just accidents,” said Sen. Paul Lundeen (R-Monument). “They were preventable. HB 19-1124 tied the hands of law enforcement and put politics ahead of public safety.”
Local Law Enforcement Caught in the Crossfire
Sheriffs and police chiefs across Colorado, especially in suburban and rural counties, have voiced their frustration for years.
“Before HB 1124, we could work hand-in-hand with ICE to identify threats and act quickly,” said Sheriff Steve Reams of Weld County. “Now, we’re forced to release people we know are dangerous because our state government has decided to interfere.”
Some departments have attempted to bypass state restrictions by using public court records or informal tip networks to warn ICE about high-risk releases. But these efforts face growing legal and political risks.
A 2022 letter from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office warned that any effort to cooperate beyond the bounds of the statute could result in disciplinary action or loss of state funding.
Governor Polis’s Position: Civil Liberties First
Governor Jared Polis has remained firm in his defense of the law. His administration argues that HB 19-1124 simply upholds constitutional protections and prevents local police from becoming “deportation agents.”
“We will not use our state resources to enforce broken federal immigration laws,” Polis said in 2020, doubling down after the Trump administration criticized the state. “Our communities are safer when people trust local law enforcement—not fear them.”
However, critics argue that this stance ignores the real-world outcomes of prioritizing ideology over enforcement. They say the governor has failed to reconcile his commitment to immigrant rights with the duty to protect all Colorado residents from crime and repeat offenders.
The Federal Government’s Strained Role
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has frequently clashed with Colorado over sanctuary policies, accusing the state of endangering public safety.
In a 2023 statement, ICE said:
“Colorado’s HB 1124 has resulted in dozens of violent offenders being released into communities. Our agents are forced to track fugitives on the street who should have been safely turned over in jail custody.”
Federal officials estimate that between 2020 and 2024, ICE issued more than 4,000 detainers to Colorado jails, with a compliance rate of less than 10%.
Several former ICE agents have told FNF News that Colorado now ranks among the most difficult states to operate in outside of California.
Immigrant Advocacy Groups Push Back
Progressive organizations and immigration advocates insist that the backlash to HB 19-1124 is part of a broader anti-immigrant narrative and dismiss the focus on isolated crimes.
“The vast majority of undocumented immigrants are hardworking, law-abiding people,” said Gabriela Campos of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. “Repealing this law would take us back to an era of fear and mass deportation.”
Campos also argues that cooperation with ICE has historically led to racial profiling, mistaken arrests, and legal liability for local agencies.
2026 Midterms May Decide the Law’s Fate
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, House Bill 19-1124 is quickly becoming a centerpiece of the state’s political debate.
Republicans have already vowed to introduce a repeal bill if they retake the legislature. Multiple sheriffs and former law enforcement officials are running for office on platforms promising to restore ICE cooperation.
Even some moderate Democrats are starting to distance themselves from the law.
“People are angry,” said political analyst Mark Halstead. “They’re watching crime rise, and they’re seeing headlines about criminal immigrants being released. That’s a potent message, especially in swing districts.”
Conclusion: A Law on Trial
House Bill 19-1124 was born in a time of deep national division over immigration policy. Today, its real-world impact is at the center of a fierce debate over what kind of state Colorado wants to be — a sanctuary of civil liberties or a stronghold of public order.
As victims’ families demand justice, law enforcement begs for support, and politicians calculate their next move, one thing is clear: the fight over HB 19-1124 is far from over. And the people of Colorado will ultimately decide whether sanctuary means safety—or surrender.
Tags: Jared Polis, Colorado HB 19-1124, Immigration Enforcement, Sanctuary State, Crime in Colorado, ICE, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, FNF News