Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) on Thursday announced that federal immigration agents are banned from city property while also mandating Denver law enforcement to protect protesters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnston issued the ban via an executive order. The order mandates that Denver police and sheriff\u2019s deputies document federal immigration officers with body cameras, give life-saving aid to someone harmed by federal officers and \u201cto intervene in instances of force that could cause death or serious bodily injury by immigration enforcement agents,\u201d among other provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe seek not to provoke but to protect,\u201d Johnston said in a statement. \u201cIn a time of great fear, we are reminding Denverites that there are still those you can trust and lines you can\u2019t cross. Our law enforcement and legal teams will stand up for civil liberties, and, if necessary, step in to protect the life and safety of our residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is our city, and we will defend the rights of every person in it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson called the executive order \u201clegally illiterate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II and the Supremacy Clause,\u201d the spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill. \u201cWhile Mayor Johnston continues to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto their streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make Denver safe again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The order is symbolic, as Denver and the state of Colorado do not have the power to stop federal immigration officers from conducting operations, even in the face of the state\u2019s sanctuary laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnston\u2019s executive order comes amid President Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown in Democratic-led states. His deportation agenda faced major pushback in Minnesota, after officials accused the administration of federal overreach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was exacerbated by the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis last month, which led to further outcry after Trump administration officials accused them of \u201cdomestic terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other states have acted on how local law enforcement will interact with ICE. Earlier this month, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed into law a bill banning cooperation agreements between sheriffs and ICE. Wicomico County Sheriff Michael Lewis on Wednesday accused the new law of putting \u201cpolitics over public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democratic lawmakers called for dramatic reform within DHS and for ICE. Some House Democrats backed an appropriations bill to fund DHS last month. Pretti\u2019s death drew Democratic senators away from the backing the bill, resulting in an ongoing shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n