(filed May 2, 2025)
U.S. v. State of Colorado, County and City of Denver - The Trump Administration sued the state of Colorado and the city/county of Denver for state laws and local ordinances that limited ICE detainers and use of resources for immigration enforcement (amendments to state statutes, Denver Executive Order No. 142 and Denver ordinance No. 940-17 revising municipal codes). The federal government claims these statutes and ordinances are preempted by federal law and in violation of 8 USC 1373. The state, the county, and the city requested the federal judge to dismiss the case. On March 31, 2026, the federal court granted the motion to dismiss and ordered the case to be closed. The federal court generally held that the “the Constitution does not confer upon Congress the power to compel states to implement federal regulatory programs” and that state implementation and enforcement of federal immigration schemes are “necessarily voluntary” and to hold otherwise would impose a financial burden on state and local governments. The government may appeal the federal court’s decision.