Douglas County officials are hoping to repeal state laws that limit how local law enforcement can interact with federal immigration agencies to allow cooperation between the agencies when an immigrant who is undocumented is in custody.

Colorado state Sen. Mark Baisley and Rep. Max Brooks, who both represent parts of Douglas County, introduced Senate Bill 25-047, which would allow local law enforcement to report immigrants they believe are illegally in the country to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The bill would also remove the prohibition on arresting or detaining immigrants at courthouses and prevent local governments from enacting laws that would interfere in immigration enforcement or cooperation.

At a Feb. 12 press conference, Baisley, Brooks, Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly, 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler and former ICE director John Fabbricatore advocated for the bill’s passage, while acknowledging the uphill battle it faces.

Weekly said the bill eliminates “unnecessary barriers” and clears up guidance to law enforcement, which he said is currently interpreted differently by different agencies.

“There’s so many laws on the books now about immigration that it’s very convoluted, so this (bill) puts us in the right direction,” Weekly said, noting that he is “one of the few sheriffs that will actually contact ICE if we believe that somebody is in this country illegally.”

Last year, Baisley brought forth a similar bill with former Rep. Richard Holtorf, of Akron, but it was unsuccessful.

Baisley and Brooks said they are more hopeful about the fate of the bill this year since the recent investigations into Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that has been linked to some crimes in Denver and Aurora.

Baisley said that though the bill “does not have a good chance of passing this time,” he believes it has broad support.

“The awareness of the public is rising quite a bit and the sheriffs are going to show up (in support),” he said.

Brooks added that the bill aligns with recent comments from Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who said in interviews they support deporting violent criminals.

“I’m very hopeful that because of their stance that they have taken publicly in admitting this is a big problem and something we need to address, that perhaps will influence some of their Democratic colleagues in the legislature,” Brooks said.

SB25-047 has its first hearing on Feb. 25 in the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

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