The Journey With Migrants Mission Partnership and the Colorado Council of Churches’ Voices For Justice (VFJ) seek your support for HB23-1100, titled “Restrict Government Involvement in Immigration Detention” being considered in the Colorado Assembly.
As Christians, Christ’s teaching to treat one another with hospitality and compassion is primary, especially when someone is a “stranger.” We are called to “welcome the stranger,” especially individuals and families who face extreme poverty and violence in their home nations.
After passing the House, this bill will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. You can easily voice your support for HB23-1100 with your Senator by clicking here and take action under “Tell Your Senator to Support Keeping Families Together.” Enter your name and address. Using your zip code, a draft note to your Senator will appear on screen. You may customize your note before you send it (always a good idea!) It’s a quick and effective way to take the opportunity to advocate for our neighbors.
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For more detailed information, click here.
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HB23-1100, titled “Restrict Government Involvement in Immigration Detention,” passed the Colorado House (41-22) on February 27th. The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency responsible for overseeing and implementing policies related to immigration detention, contracts out a portion of its detention capacity to state and local governments. State and local governments may then subcontract with prisons or immigration detention facilities that are owned, managed, or operated by private entities to house or detain individuals for federal civil immigration purposes. Currently, also, state and local government entities may enter into agreements directly with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to house or detain individuals for federal civil immigration purposes. This bill prohibits state and local governments from entering into or renewing contracts that would house or detain individuals for federal civil immigration purposes. Sponsors of this bill are Rep. Naquetta Ricks, Rep. Lorena Garcia, Sen. Julie Gonzales and Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis.
This bill does not impact the GEO detention facility in Aurora because it is the federal government (not Colorado governmental entities) that contracts with that privately owned facility. There are, however, county jails in Colorado, primarily in rural counties, that have contracts to house migrant detainees. Because this bill would prohibit the renewal of agreements regarding detaining migrants for civil offenses in those jails, there may be strong opposition to the bill in the upcoming committee hearing.