Colorado Counties Sue State Over Law Blocking Them from Tackling Migrant Crime

Six Colorado counties are suing the state over a law that prohibits local law enforcement from communicating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that it hobbles their ability to tackle migrant crime and has led to a surge in gang activity, including from the notorious Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua.

As Colorado grapples with rising gang violence fueled by illegal immigration, six counties have filed a lawsuit against the state over a law they say hamstrings their efforts to combat migrant crime.

The counties, including Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Garfield, Mesa, and Rio Blanco, are challenging HB119-1124, which prohibits local governments from cooperating with the federal government for immigration enforcement. They argue that the law violates the state constitution and the U.S. Supremacy Clause, which outlaws state laws from contravening federal ones.

Colorado Counties Sue State Over Law Blocking Them from Tackling Migrant Crime

Local officials in the affected counties say the law has hindered their ability to communicate with ICE, resulting in an increase in property crimes, assaults, and trafficking, particularly from cartels operating out of Venezuela.

"Our local law enforcement would like the ability to communicate with local immigration officials," said Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon. "We have been apprised that there has absolutely been an increase in property crimes, assault, and trafficking, and it's specific issues with the cartels coming out of Venezuela."

Colorado Counties Sue State Over Law Blocking Them from Tackling Migrant Crime

"Colorado has rendered us feeling like we don't have the tools necessary, and that's incredibly frustrating," added El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner.

The lawsuit also targets HB23-1100, which prohibits local governments from entering into intergovernmental agreements with ICE or other federal agencies to circumvent the communication ban. This law was enacted after nearby Teller County, which is not part of the lawsuit, entered a 287(g) agreement with ICE to hold migrants arrested there. Colorado's appeals court ruled that practice illegal under state law.

Colorado Counties Sue State Over Law Blocking Them from Tackling Migrant Crime

"Even before we decided to get into this lawsuit, we had encouraged Denver to consider what they might be attracting to our area," Geitner told Fox News Digital. "It's a huge concern. We're watching it trickle out, and we've been ringing the alarm bells on this for the last couple years."

Officials in Aurora, a city within Douglas County located nine miles east of Denver, have reported a surge in activity by the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, which has established a strong foothold in the community and taken over entire apartment complexes.

Colorado Counties Sue State Over Law Blocking Them from Tackling Migrant Crime

"Parts of the city are absolutely under this gang control. The local media is downplaying this," said Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky. "I believe politics is being played with people's lives... Nothing is being done to help the American citizens that are being trapped under this gang's control."

In response to the lawsuit, Democrat Gov. Jared Polis has not yet commented.

Colorado Counties Sue State Over Law Blocking Them from Tackling Migrant Crime

Chris Swecker, the former head of the FBI's criminal investigation division, previously told Fox News Digital that the influx of gang members is "predictable and preventable" and requires the involvement of federal law enforcement agencies to combat it.

"At this point, federal agencies should get involved," he said. "The bureau has to get involved with ATF and DEA, share their intelligence, and approach this as an international crime problem."