You’ve likely heard about Colorado’s sanctuary state policies in the news, but what do these protections mean for families in your community? Through First Plymouth’s Immigration Task Force, we’ve witnessed firsthand how these laws create space for human dignity to flourish.
We’ve also seen the confusion and fear that surrounds immigration enforcement in our current climate. The reality is that Colorado’s approach to immigration enforcement reflects something deeper than policy; it reflects our values as a community.
When local law enforcement agencies prioritize public safety over federal immigration enforcement, they’re choosing the kind of society you want to build together.
Understanding Colorado’s Sanctuary State Status
When did Colorado become a sanctuary state? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. While Colorado doesn’t have a law declaring it a sanctuary state, Governor Polis has signed multiple bills and issued executive orders that limit cooperation between state and local governments and federal immigration authorities.
These sanctuary policies create a patchwork of protections across the state. The legal definition of sanctuary jurisdictions varies, but the core principle remains consistent: local law enforcement prioritizes community safety over acting as extensions of federal immigration enforcement.
What does it mean to be a sanctuary state in practical terms? It means that when you call 911, local officials respond to the emergency rather than checking immigration status. It means children can attend school without fear that their family’s documentation will be questioned.
Most importantly, it means the community can build trust with all residents, regardless of how they arrived here.
Cities like Denver and Fort Collins have established themselves as sanctuary cities. Meanwhile, Colorado counties have adopted varying levels of protective laws for immigrant residents.
Your Faith and Immigration Justice
As we reflect on Scripture, we’re reminded of Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Sanctuary policies create space for this kind of radical hospitality.
The biblical call to welcome immigrants isn’t a suggestion—it’s a commandment that appears throughout Scripture. Limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement doesn’t break federal law; it creates space for local communities to focus on the real work of public safety and community building. Understanding Colorado’s immigration inclusivity helps communities more fully embrace this biblical mandate.
First Plymouth has witnessed how sanctuary policies enable immigrant families to report crimes, seek healthcare, and fully participate in community life. When people don’t have to fear that calling the police will result in deportation, everyone becomes safer.
How You Can Support Sanctuary Protections Today
Understanding Colorado’s sanctuary state approach is just the beginning. Living out these values requires ongoing commitment and action from people of faith and conscience. Here are concrete ways to support immigrant protections in Colorado:
- Advocate with local governments: Attend city council meetings and encourage the expansion of sanctuary policies in your community.
- Support immigrant-serving organizations: Partnering with groups that provide legal aid, emergency assistance, and integration services.
- Contact your representatives: Urge state and federal officials to support comprehensive immigration reform.
- Volunteer with our Immigration Task Force: Help provide support through our church programs.
- Educate yourself and others: Learn about current immigration laws and share accurate information in your circles, especially on immigrant rights.
The work of sanctuary requires sustained community engagement across multiple fronts.
The Complex Federal and State Relationship
The relationship between federal law and state laws around immigration enforcement has created significant tension, particularly during the Trump administration. Federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are changing their approach to working with sanctuary jurisdictions.
Sometimes these federal agencies have threatened to withhold federal money from communities that limit such cooperation. What we have learned through our church’s advocacy work is that the federal government cannot force local jurisdictions to enforce federal immigration laws.
The Supreme Court has upheld the principle that state and local governments maintain autonomy in determining how they allocate their resources and personnel. This doesn’t mean sanctuary policies operate in a legal vacuum.
Federal immigration laws remain in effect, and federal officials continue to conduct immigration enforcement within Colorado. What changes is the level of cooperation they receive from local law enforcement agencies and the extent to which state and local resources support these efforts.
Colorado’s Patchwork of Protections
Colorado’s sanctuary landscape includes a complex mix of state laws, executive orders, and local policies. El Paso County and other localities designated as sanctuary jurisdictions have adopted specific provisions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Some Colorado counties have embraced comprehensive sanctuary policies, while others maintain more limited protections. This patchwork means that immigrant residents may experience different levels of legal protection depending on where they live within the state. Exploring biblical perspectives on justice can help communities understand the spiritual foundations for these protective policies.
Jared Polis has consistently advocated for immigrant protections throughout his tenure as governor. His executive orders have established clear guidelines for state agencies regarding cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
These executive orders also support legal remedies for immigrants facing deportation. The Justice Department, under various administrations, has taken different approaches to sanctuary jurisdictions.
Some have pursued enforcement measures and legal challenges, while others have focused on collaboration and community-based solutions to immigration challenges. You’ll find that localities identified as sanctuary jurisdictions continue to adapt their policies in response to these changing federal relationships.
Living Our Values Through Policy
As a progressive Christian community, First Plymouth believes that faith calls us to welcome the stranger and protect the vulnerable. Our Immigration Task Force advocates for policies that reflect values of human dignity and community safety. Learning about how churches help immigrants reveals the many ways faith communities can support newcomers beyond policy advocacy.
We’ve participated in city council meetings where these sanctuary policies were debated. We’ve listened to concerns from community members who worry about public safety, and we’ve heard testimony from families whose lives have been transformed by these protections.
Most striking is how often fear drives the conversation when love should be leading us forward. Understanding how progressive churches address injustice helps guide us in tackling systemic issues through faith-based action.
When immigrant families feel secure accessing essential services without fear of deportation, the entire community benefits. The positive impacts ripple through multiple areas of community life:
- Stronger public health outcomes through increased healthcare access.
- Better-educated children who can focus on learning rather than fear.
- More robust economic participation from all community members.
- Enhanced trust between residents and local law enforcement.
- Improved crime reporting and community safety cooperation.
The Real Impact on Our Community
Colorado’s sanctuary state protections represent more than just legal technicalities, as they’re a profound statement about who we are as a community. By establishing clear boundaries between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, these policies create frameworks of trust that strengthen all your neighborhoods.
When you understand that immigrants contribute to fighting crime rather than causing it, you can see how sanctuary policies enhance public safety. Federal authorities may have different priorities, but local law enforcement can focus on what matters most to the community.
Building Bridges in Divisive Times
Colorado’s approach to sanctuary jurisdictions offers a model of how communities can choose love over fear, welcome over exclusion, and justice over punishment. The Immigration Task Force at First Plymouth continues to work within this framework of sanctuary.
We invite you to join us in this sacred work of building a beloved community where everyone can find home. For churches seeking to create safe spaces for vulnerable populations, the immigration ministry provides a powerful avenue for meaningful service.
The choice is yours: Will you advocate for building walls or bridges? Will you support policies that reflect the deepest values about human dignity and community safety?
For more information about First Plymouth’s Immigration Task Force or to get involved in sanctuary advocacy, contact us at director@firstplymouthchurch.org. Together, we can build communities where everyone belongs.
