CASTLE ROCK, Colo. – President-elect Donald Trump’s promised crackdown on unlawful immigration has heightened partisan divides between deep blue Denver and its conservative neighbors, together with the city of Fortress Rock, which has already pledged to assist Trump’s forthcoming immigration policies.
“Denver doesn’t communicate for all of Colorado, and Denver definitely doesn’t communicate for Douglas County,” Max Brooks, Fortress Rock councilman and newly sworn-in member of the Colorado Home of Representatives, instructed Fox Information Digital forward of inauguration day.
The city council unanimously handed Brooks’ measure final month expressing “robust assist for President-Elect Donald Trump’s proposal to unravel this nation’s ever-growing immigration disaster by endeavor mass deportations of unauthorized migrants.”
The measure additionally expressed Fortress Rock’s willingness to “cooperate with federal immigration officers” on this effort.
Fortress Rock is probably the most populous city in Douglas County, Colorado, positioned south of Denver. Officers within the conservative area say they have been negatively impacted by the state’s defacto sanctuary standing. (Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi/Fox Information Digital)
Brooks mentioned the measure was in direct response to actions in Denver, the place Mayor Mike Johnston in November instructed metropolis police might be deployed to withstand federal immigration officers. Johnston later walked again that assertion.
The Mile Excessive Metropolis additionally welcomed practically 43,000 migrants between December 2022 and final summer season, in response to metropolis knowledge. New arrivals dropped off across the similar time President Biden took government motion to staunch the circulation of migrants throughout the southern border, and Denver closed its final migrant shelter in early October citing lack of demand.
“You can’t convey [43,000] individuals into Denver and assume that they’re going to stay inside Denver’s partitions,” Brooks mentioned. “They’ll unfold out throughout the Entrance Vary, which makes this a Colorado downside.”
Some locals instructed Fox Information Digital they do not personally see the inflow of unlawful immigrants that their neighbors to the north have been affected by, however Brooks mentioned there are nonetheless indicators. He pointed to the Douglas County Jail, which held 369 inmates on Thursday, 15% of whom had been listed as non-U.S. residents.
Crews from the town and county of Denver put together to move individuals to shelters or housing on Jan. 3, 2024. Town noticed an inflow of about 43,000 migrants since December 2022, although the surge has slowed in latest months. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Publish)
‘JUST SOLVE THE DAMN PROBLEM’: COLORADANS ON EDGE OVER IMMIGRATION CRISIS IN DENVER
A viral video of alleged Venezuelan gang members carrying weapons by way of an Aurora house complicated final August put Colorado on the forefront of the nationwide immigration debate. Then-candidate Trump visited the city final fall, vowing to “expedite the removals of those savage gangs.”
One Fortress Rock resident, who mentioned he legally emigrated from Brazil, had a tough time judging individuals who might have illegally entered the U.S.
“It is laborious ‘trigger they’re working away from poverty, violence, criminality or no matter they’re working from,” he mentioned. “For them to take that step of their life and be such a susceptible place that they’re, it have to be actually unhealthy on the market.”
However Catherine, who mentioned she legally immigrated to Colorado from Colombia two years in the past after a nine-year course of, mentioned it is “essential to be strict” with border enforcement.
“For those who do not management the principles, in all probability in [the] future, your nation would be the similar [as our countries],” she mentioned.
Catherine mentioned she immigrated to Colorado two years in the past after a nine-year course of. She expressed hope that the federal government would make it simpler for individuals to immigrate legally, but in addition mentioned the U.S. wants to guard its borders. (Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi/Fox Information Digital)
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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, has lengthy pushed again on the notion that Colorado is a “sanctuary state,” however Brooks mentioned cities like Fortress Rock are “considerably hamstrung” by state legal guidelines dictating that police can not work with immigration officers.
“The phrases do not matter a lot as motion,” Brooks mentioned. “We would like cops to be cops. We would like cops to have the ability to do their jobs.”
Extra not too long ago, Polis said he would welcome assist from the federal authorities eradicating criminals and gang members, however that “going after law-abiding Coloradans who would possibly’ve lived right here for 20, 30 years” can be met with a struggle.
Douglas County previously sued the state over its sanctuary insurance policies, however a district court docket dismissed the swimsuit final month. Brooks mentioned municipalities are mulling new authorized motion, however are ready to see how the scenario modifications after Trump takes workplace.
“We all know that we will safe the southern border,” he mentioned. “So we all know that Denver just isn’t going to as a lot as they maybe would possibly like, proceed to usher in unlawful migrants right here.”
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