Trump Department of Justice sues Colorado, Denver officials over immigration laws

Katie Langford, The Denver Post on May 2, 2025

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DENVER — The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday filed a lawsuit against Colorado and Denver’s top elected officials seeking to overturn state and local laws that limit federal immigration enforcement in the state.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, names Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins, Denver City Council and the City and County of Denver.

President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to overturn several laws, including a 2023 bill that prohibits law enforcement from keeping people in jail on immigration detainers and a 2021 bill that bars state employees from sharing people’s personal information with federal immigration officials.

In a statement, Denver officials said the city follows all local, state and federal laws and is ready to defend its values.

“Denver will not be bullied or blackmailed, least of all by an administration that has little regard for the law and even less for the truth,” city officials said Friday.