Denver, CO – On February 25th, hundreds of community members, advocates, and allies gathered at the Colorado State Capitol against SB25-047 – wearing white and packing the Old Colorado Supreme Court Chambers and 2 overflow rooms. This dangerous anti-immigrant bill was introduced by Republican lawmakers and aimed to embed ICE with law enforcement, institute racial profiling, and waste state and local resources on separating Colorado families. The bill was killed in committee after overwhelming testimony against it, including from CIRC’s members and staff. Thank you to Senate Committee members, Ball, Weissman and Sullivan who voted NO on this bill!
Hundreds of Coloradans showed up to send a clear message: Colorado rejects racial profiling, family separation, and attacks on our neighbors. Participants wore wear white to show solidarity and demonstrate a united front against this harmful legislation, which we have fought and won before.
“These policies do not make our communities safer; on the contrary, they create fear and distrust. Victims of domestic violence, robbery, and other crimes stop reporting out of fear of being detained or deported. This puts the entire community at risk,” shared community leader Nancy.
If passed, SB25-47 would:
- Require police to report people they “suspect” to be undocumented to ICE, leading to racial profiling.
- Divert state and local resources to fuel family separation.
- Punish cities that refuse to cooperate with ICE.
- Allow ICE to detain people in courthouses, silencing survivors and witnesses seeking justice.
- Expand private detention centers for corporate profit.
“Colorado has lived through the collective trauma of show me your papers laws, and both law enforcement and the community believe this is bad policy. We won’t go backwards,” shared Brendan Greene, Executive Director of the East Colfax Community Collective.
SIGNED,
The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)
American Friends Service Committee
Center for Health Progress
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR)
Juntos Community
Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning
ISAAC of Northern Colorado
East Colfax Community Center (EC3)