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Denver directed city police Thursday to come to the aid of people protesting the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, authorizing officers to detain federal agents who use deadly force.
The directive to aid peaceful protesters is outlined in an executive order signed by Mayor Mike Johnston that reflects the lingering outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti and Renée Nicole Good by federal agents deployed to Minneapolis last month.
“If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation,” Johnston, a Democrat, said during a press conference to outline the order. “We hold our own officers to that standard, and we will hold any ICE agent to the same.”
Denver police chief Ron Thomas said officers would not interfere with lawful immigration enforcement actions.
“Federal agents are expected to follow local laws and public safety regulations,” Thomas said. “All law enforcement officers have a statutory obligation to intervene if they witness illegal or excessive force being used by any law enforcement officer, to include federal agents.”
Denver’s announcement comes days after President Donald Trump in his State of the Union called on Congress to force cities to halt so-called “sanctuary” policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with immigration authorities.
Denver was sued by the administration last year for what the government said was improper interference in immigration enforcement.
“ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities and local officials should work with them, not against them,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in response to Denver’s executive order. “Anyone doing otherwise is simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens.”
The city's order directs the Denver Police Department to protect peaceful protesters, provide emergency medical assistance and “de-escalate” conflicts with ICE officers.
It also directs local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute any ICE officer who assaults, shoots or kills someone in Denver, and prohibits the use of city-owned property such as parks or parking lots for enforcement staging or operations. A similar law banning ICE from state property is being contested by the Trump administration in New Jersey.
Denver directed city police Thursday to come to the aid of people protesting the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, authorizing officers to detain federal agents who use deadly force.
The directive to aid peaceful protesters is outlined in an executive order signed by Mayor Mike Johnston that reflects the lingering outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti and Renée Nicole Good by federal agents deployed to Minneapolis last month.
“If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation,” Johnston, a Democrat, said during a press conference to outline the order. “We hold our own officers to that standard, and we will hold any ICE agent to the same.”
Denver police chief Ron Thomas said officers would not interfere with lawful immigration enforcement actions.
“Federal agents are expected to follow local laws and public safety regulations,” Thomas said. “All law enforcement officers have a statutory obligation to intervene if they witness illegal or excessive force being used by any law enforcement officer, to include federal agents.”
Denver’s announcement comes days after President Donald Trump in his State of the Union called on Congress to force cities to halt so-called “sanctuary” policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with immigration authorities.
Denver was sued by the administration last year for what the government said was improper interference in immigration enforcement.
“ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities and local officials should work with them, not against them,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in response to Denver’s executive order. “Anyone doing otherwise is simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens.”
The city's order directs the Denver Police Department to protect peaceful protesters, provide emergency medical assistance and “de-escalate” conflicts with ICE officers.
It also directs local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute any ICE officer who assaults, shoots or kills someone in Denver, and prohibits the use of city-owned property such as parks or parking lots for enforcement staging or operations. A similar law banning ICE from state property is being contested by the Trump administration in New Jersey.
