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With President Donald Trump inaugurated on Monday, immigrant communities and residents of Metro Denver are now wondering how quickly his policies — including proposed mass deportations — can be implemented locally.
So far, reports in recent days of possible raids against Denver’s immigrant communities by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not been confirmed.
But The Wall Street Journalciting unnamed sources, put Denver on a list of major U.S. cities where the government planned to launch raids soon — possibly as early as Tuesday in Chicago, although plans were in flux this weekend. The other places where immigrants without legal status could later be targeted were Miami, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, DC and San Antonio. The New York Times And the associated press later confirmed that Chicago would likely be the starting point.
Here’s what we know.
Why is Denver being talked about?
The Denver area is on the radar in part because Venezuelan gang activity, confined to a few abandoned apartment buildings in Aurora, drew national attention during the presidential campaign in the fall, leading Trump to campaign on the pledge during a local stop to launch ‘Operation Aurora’.
Over the past two years, Denver has received more than 40,000 migrants who have traveled from the southern U.S. border to Colorado. But since the beginning of last year, the flow of migrants has slowed considerably.
What has Trump said about his plans?
As of early Monday evening, it was not yet clear when – or if – these raids would take place or which immigrants would be targeted. At times, Trump has talked about focusing primarily on people without legal status who have been arrested for or convicted of crimes, while at other times he has broadened his focus to other immigrant populations.
Trump was sworn in for his second, non-consecutive term on Monday. In his inaugural address, he announced some of his immigration priorities, including declaring a national emergency along the southern border, where he will also send troops.
“Any illegal entry will immediately cease, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens to the places they came from,” Trump said.
He plans to restore his “Stay in Mexico” policy – a 2019 guideline causing specific asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed. He also says he will designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Trump wants to appeal to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to use federal and state law enforcement to root out foreign gangs and criminal networks in the US
What is known locally?
What will happen next in Colorado is still up in the air, especially as state laws complicate coordination between local law enforcement and ICE.
ICE was not available Monday to respond to questions about whether Denver is a city where immigration raids are expected to begin, what initial actions it plans to take under the Trump administration and when ICE enforcement is expected to begin in connection with this new policy.
When asked before the inauguration what might change after Trump takes office, Kelei Walker, ICE’s acting field director in Denver, said, “Anything we would say now would be speculation.” Our focus will continue to be on national security, public safety and border security. We have a resource that we want to be judicial about, so our officers will continue to do that and focus on making Colorado and Wyoming communities safer.”
What have Colorado leaders said?
Local leaders have approached Trump’s immigration proposals in different ways.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, has spoken out against them, saying he and other Denver residents would oppose a federal effort to deport immigrants here. Meanwhile, Republican Mayor Mike Coffman of Aurora has expressed general support for Trump’s plans, which include the deportation of immigrants who violate certain laws.
“The city of Aurora is not, and never has been, a ‘sanctuary city,’ but we will do everything we can legally, under state and federal law, to assist the new administration with immigration enforcement,” he wrote last month a statement. .
Governor Jared Polis’ position lies somewhere in between.
In his recent State of the State address, the Democrat expressed hope that Trump would work with lawmakers to “secure the border, stop human trafficking, and stem the flow of guns and drugs.” Polis also said he would welcome federal assistance to detain and deport “dangerous criminals.”
His support ended shortly afterwards.
“But Colorado will not support efforts to deport U.S. citizens, target those who have legal status, or break up families,” Polis said, “creating orphans of U.S. children whose parents are still alive and who have come to this country to build a better life for their children. their families.”
Staff writer Shelly Bradbury contributed to this story.
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