DENVER, CO — Colorado gubernatorial candidate Michael Bennet today released his strategy to block new immigration detention centers in Colorado as Governor. As Donald Trump and his lawless administration rush to build new detention centers and cruelly round up and deport as many people as possible, Michael is the only candidate with a detailed approach to stop new detention facilities in Colorado and protect the state from Trump’s chaos.
“Colorado will not become a home for Donald Trump’s cruel immigration enforcement agenda,” said Michael. “As Governor, I’ll lead the fight to block new detention facilities in our state, take on ICE agents who break the law, and protect Coloradans through real accountability measures. I’ve spent my career standing with immigrant communities and pushing back against Trump’s lawlessness. We will not allow his attacks on immigrants to bring fear and chaos into our communities, and people across Colorado will know their Governor is standing shoulder to shoulder with them in the fight against this inhumane approach every step of the way.”
“As a child of immigrants, the attack against our immigrant communities feels very personal. And as the only Middle Eastern representative in the House. I feel a tremendous responsibility to represent the interests of my community,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie. “Too often, what we are told is that this issue must be kept to the federal government, and I am tired of being told that there is nothing we can do. I am ready for a governor that will take bold, decisive action. I am here because Michael Bennet is a leader who understands that protecting immigrants is not just a talking point. It is a moral obligation. I know that he will lead us in sending a clear message to the federal government that here in Colorado, we protect everyone’s civil rights.”
“This fight isn’t new for Michael,” said Sen. Adrienne Benavidez. “I’ve fought side-by-side with Michael for years to stand up for Colorado’s immigrant communities – fighting for DREAMers, working on comprehensive immigration reform, and standing up to Trump’s lawlessness here in Colorado. This isn’t just about stopping bad policies; it’s about proactively charting a better path forward. Michael Bennet brings the exact type of leadership we need right now, because when we protect our immigrant communities, we make all of Colorado stronger.”
Michael will block new immigration detention centers in Colorado by:
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Empowering local governments to reject new immigration detention facilities that strain local resources. Michael will work with the legislature to expand “1041 powers” to include immigration detention centers, giving local governments the ability to reject these projects based on potential impacts to health, safety, and security of the community.
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Enacting a moratorium on using existing prison facilities for immigration detention. As Colorado grapples with overcrowding in prisons, Michael will call for a moratorium on using existing prison facilities in Colorado for immigrant detention until Colorado finds a long term solution to reducing overcrowding and stabilizing its prison population.
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Signing an Executive Order to reconfirm Colorado’s prohibition of detention centers on state land, including state trust lands, state correctional facilities, and other institutional lands.
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Strictly enforcing state law prohibiting local and state governments from cooperating with immigration detention facilities, including by signing an Executive Order requiring state agencies to interpret the limits on cooperation as broadly as possible.
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Leading a coalition of Governors to prohibit the expansion of new detention centers.
Michael has spent his career fighting to fix the country’s broken immigration system and hold Trump and his lawless Department of Homeland Security accountable. While Michael was leading the work to stop family separation under Trump’s first Administration, his opponent, Phil Weiser, refused to join 20 of his Democratic colleagues on a lawsuit to stop Trump’s horrific separation of families at the border.
