Immigrant advocates, members of Colorado communities and law enforcement spoke about the bills. Those supporting HB26-1276 say it could calm fears within the community by building trust with local law enforcement. Representatives of Colorado public safety argue that the penalties in the bill are broad. And that by regulating federal collaboration, local enforcement could be in dark, operationally.

If the bill passes it will:

• Require state agencies provide a copy of federal immigration subpoenas to the Colorado Judicial Department.
• Require that targets of federal immigration subpoenas be notified when local law enforcement and Colorado courts are notified.
• Prohibit the state and local airports from engaging with federal agents to transport or detain people for immigration reasons.
• Expand public health and environmental oversight for immigration facilities and detention centers and begin annual inspections by July 15th.

These changes would affect the criminal justice and public safety reports required by law. These reports are presented to the state assembly’s judiciary committees on a yearly basis.

Christopher Nurse spoke in support of HB26-1276, while representing the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. Immigrant communities are especially ‘vulnerable’ and ‘scared’ Nurse explained. “This bill does the asking for them, it demands transparency, it demands accountability. It demands that when people are detained in our state they are treated with dignity.”

One of CIRC’s goals, as stated on their website is to “Educate the general community on the issues and realities of immigration”. Nurse said in closing their remarks,” We will not look away”.

Members of the Colorado Public Safety Department (CPSD) spoke in opposition to HB26-1276, accompanied by a few racist Colorado residents.

When asked by Rep. Clifford how local police determine a federal agency is operating with ‘good faith’, Deputy Chief Todd Reeves, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police responded, “This bill makes that clear, that the importance of being transparent and being able to provide comfort and safety in our communities is a paramount for us.”

Dep. Chief Reeves continued, “We do not participate in immigration enforcement”, when working alongside federal immigration enforcement, he claims that local police are there to protect ‘the community’. He explained emphatically “They know better than to ask us to do those kinds of things,” meaning immigration enforcement and deportation operations.

In a claim strongly aligned with the purpose of the bill, the deputy chief finished his response to the committee. Saying, “Lastly I’ll tell you that if I have an officer whose part of a task force who recognizes that-that’s being used for that purpose. They have an ethical, moral and legal obligation to bring that to us.” Claiming that local law enforcement leadership including himself would “withdraw from that taskforce”.

In the hour prior. Rep. Garcia, who is a prime sponsor, answered to liability concerns, “It’s not if local law enforcement is task forced, they are task forced, they’re in an agreement”.

Rep. Garcia continued speaking about information sharing and immigration data. “If it’s turned in to ICE, there’s no civil penalty there, there’s no criminolog– there’s no crime there in that, in this bill or in 276”

The Judiciary committee also heard from the public about HB26-1275 on Tuesday afternoon and into the evening. The bill was postponed indefinitely by a vote of 5-6, keeping the bill from moving forward. It would have added ‘law enforcement identification and immigration training requirements’ to public safety hiring, and operational guidelines. (For more on the committee vote, here’s a reel by 9News Denver.)

HB26-1276 was assigned to the House Finance Committee for further discussions.

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Feature Image by Florence Alden. August 2025.

Update – Corrections made at 6:02 PM on 3-18-26. Rep. Carter is a sponsor, some incorrect tense usage was fixed, and clarification was made.