Bill to Support Immigrant Communities Amid ICE Overreach Passes Senate

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senators Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, to support immigrant communities and increase oversight of immigration detention facilities. 

“The Trump Administration is abducting members of our community and holding them in secretive, unhealthy, and dangerous facilities. One of them is right in my district,” said Weissman. “That’s why we are taking action to improve transparency and oversight of these facilities. We all deserve the freedom to keep our families together and have due process under the law.” 

“As state legislators, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep our communities safe from the violent and unconstitutional overreach of ICE,” said Jodeh. “We hear all too often about death, sickness, overcrowding, and other unacceptable conditions in ICE detention facilities, but there is almost no transparency. This bill is about increasing oversight, ensuring frequent inspections, and protecting health and safety.”

Specifically, HB26-1276 would:

• Require reporting on conditions in immigration detention facilities through frequent and regular inspections of the health and safety of facilities, in addition to unannounced inspections.

• Direct the Attorney General’s office to develop a model policy for sharing information with federal authorities when required by federal law. 

• Require current law enforcement to receive training on Colorado’s immigration laws to ensure they enforce state laws properly.

Last year, Democratic lawmakers passed SB25-276 to strengthen existing data privacy protections and clarify constitutional protections for immigrants.

The bill now returns to the House for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.