Saying he is guarding against federal overreach, Denver Mayor Michael Johnston has issued an executive order barring federal immigration officers from using city property and directing local police to protect peaceful protesters near immigration enforcement operations.
“When civil immigration enforcement operations disrupt our neighborhoods, they don’t just target individuals — they spread fear, tear families apart, and erode the trust that holds our community together,” Johnston said.
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Johnston’s executive order comes on the heels of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement drawdown in Minnesota after officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens on the streets of Minneapolis last month. The deaths and weeks of protests in the Twin Cities led President Trump to send his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minnesota to calm the unrest and lead the drawdown.
Local police told to detain any overly aggressive federal agents
Johnston’s executive order instructs the city’s police officers to use “their established de-escalation protocols to try to protect peaceful protestors and ensure public health, welfare, safety, and the preservation of First Amendment rights.”
At a news conference, Johnston went a step farther, warning that federal agents who use overly aggressive tactics during immigration enforcement will be subject to arrest.
“If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident,” he said, “we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation.”
Johnston also ordered police to investigate citizen reports of misconduct by federal officers. Alleged felonies will be referred to the local district attorney or the state attorney general for possible prosecution.
Johnston’s order also bars federal immigration officers from assembling or staging on city-owned property, such as parks or parking lots. The mayor said residents can obtain signs from the city telling federal agencies to keep out.
Police chief says officers won’t interfere with lawful enforcement
Politico reported that Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said his officers would not interfere with lawful immigration enforcement actions. But Thomas also said his officers have a duty to intervene if they deem aggressive tactics to be excessive.
“Federal agents are expected to follow local laws and public safety regulations,” Thomas said. “All law enforcement officers have a statutory obligation to intervene if they witness illegal or excessive force being used by any law enforcement officer, to include federal agents.”
White House reaction
Johnston said his order was not intended to stir a reaction from President Donald Trump, whose administration sued the city last year for interfering with immigration enforcement. The lawsuit is still pending.
“Our goal is not to provoke, but to protect,” Johnston said.
However, the White House denounced the mayor.
“ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities and local officials should work with them, not against them,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. “Anyone doing otherwise is simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens.”
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump called on Congress to force cities to end so-called sanctuary city policies that restrict local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
