Concerns About Sanctuary Policies in Colorado’s Hispanic Community
In a recent discussion, it was revealed that many Hispanics living in Democratic areas of Colorado are expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s sanctuary policies. Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado, a Republican, noted that the general portrayal of Hispanics being against President Trump’s immigration initiatives doesn’t reflect what he’s seeing in his district.
Both Colorado and its capital, Denver, have established sanctuary policies which restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE and other federal immigration authorities. According to Evans, these policies have contributed to rising crime and violence in local neighborhoods. Earlier this year, former DEA administrator Derek Maltz described Colorado as “ground zero for some of America’s most violent criminals” due to these regulations.
Evans, who has a background in law enforcement and is the only Latino in Colorado’s congressional delegation, stated that the implications of sanctuary policies hit close to home. He shared that in his district, authorities recently arrested over 40 gang members from the Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan crime group linked to various serious crimes. “We’re talking about guns, drugs, trafficking and child abuse… these are people who have been blessed in our society under the policies of the sanctuary state of Colorado,” he explained.
Conversations with local Hispanic business owners further underscore this sentiment. Evans mentioned a shop owner who faces significant losses due to theft attributed to illegal immigrants. “Daily, he experiences thousands of dollars in losses,” he said, highlighting the ongoing struggles these families encounter under the current administration.
Many in the community, including the business owners Evans spoke with, do not want these criminal elements in their neighborhoods. “We don’t want these people in our community,” Evans reiterated, describing how the sanctuary laws have hindered local law enforcement’s ability to act against crime.
The context surrounding immigration enforcement seems to have shifted under both Trump and Biden, with some Latino voters in sanctuary jurisdictions indicating that Republican concerns about crime resonate with their experiences. As Evans put it, “In our community, we don’t want drug dealers, cartels, criminals, or gang violence.” There seems to be a growing call within the Hispanic community for action against these issues.
Efforts to reach Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s office for comments were unsuccessful before publication.
