Colorado Families Alarmed as Governor Complies with ICE Subpoena, Raising Privacy Concerns
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The head of Colorado's state employee union is blasting Governor Jared Polis' decision to fulfill a federal immigration subpoena, calling it "morally reprehensible" as labor advocates and elected officials across the state decry authorities' widening crackdowns on immigrant communities.
The frustration with Polis comes amid deepening division around federal immigration enforcement nationally. In Colorado, the governor's move has prompted a lawsuit from a state labor official who argues the decision violates state laws regulating how personal information can be shared with immigration authorities.
Local Impact: Privacy Concerns for Colorado Families
The subpoena from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeks employment and personal information about the sponsors of unaccompanied, undocumented children - typically relatives caring for the kids while they await deportation proceedings. According to the lawsuit, Polis initially declined to comply but later "personally" decided to fulfill the request, ordering state employees to hand over the sensitive data.
This decision has alarmed many Colorado families, who fear it could undermine trust in state agencies and deter immigrant communities from seeking vital services. "We are outraged as state employees that our governor wanted us to actively support that assault on our community and (make) us, as state workers, accomplices in an illegal and morally reprehensible act," said Diane Byrne, president of Colorado WINS, the state employee union.
Legality and Transparency Questioned
The legality of Polis' move is also being challenged. The lawsuit alleges the governor's decision violates a recent state law, Senate Bill 276, which expanded restrictions on how state employees can share data with immigration authorities. Polis' office has maintained that the subpoena is part of a "specific" criminal investigation regarding child abuse, which would allow the information-sharing under state law.
However, according to the subpoena obtained by The Denver Post, there is no evidence of a specific criminal probe. The document cites a civil statute related to deportations and describes "investigative activities" to check on children, rather than a response to abuse allegations.
"There is nothing on the face of the subpoena that suggests that this is related to a criminal investigation," said David Seligman, whose nonprofit law firm Towards Justice has joined the lawsuit.
Several Democratic lawmakers have also questioned the governor's justification, saying they were not provided any evidence of a criminal investigation when they inquired about the subpoena last week.
Implications for Colorado Communities
The controversy has deepened divisions around immigration enforcement in Colorado, with labor groups and elected officials condemning Polis' actions. Colorado WINS and the state's AFL-CIO chapter are now joining the lawsuit against the governor, arguing his decision violates the trust of immigrant families and makes state workers "accomplices" to an "illegal and morally reprehensible act."
As the legal battle unfolds, Colorado families and communities are left grappling with the implications of the governor's decision to comply with the ICE subpoena. "What I took from that conversation was that they were making an assumption because (ICE) is making a request," said Rep. Lorena Garcia, who co-sponsored the recent law restricting information-sharing with immigration authorities.
The case has raised serious concerns about privacy, transparency, and the state's commitment to protecting its immigrant residents - issues that are sure to reverberate across Colorado in the weeks and months ahead.
AI-generated content. Opinion only. Verify independently.
