The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a list of sanctuary jurisdictions last week that included the state of Colorado, the City of Longmont, the City of Boulder, Boulder County, and Weld County. Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams clarified on Friday that Weld County’s inclusion on the list was a mistake and that DHS updated the list. The list has since been removed and users are directed to a “page not found” screen. The Way Back Machine page for Friday confirms that Weld County was removed.
The DHS press release is still on the website and states that the release of the list is under the direction of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on April 28 directing Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi to “identify and publicly highlight jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.”
Governor Jared Polis’s office issued a response to the inclusion of Colorado as a “self-identified” sanctuary state to Denver7 News. “Colorado is not a sanctuary state, despite this completely incorrect designation by DHS,” Polis’s office said. “I am pleased that, given the lack of specificity provided for how this designation was made, that Aurora, El Paso County, and Weld County have already been removed, and I hope that others – including the state – are soon too. Colorado prioritizes public safety, and local and state law enforcement work closely with federal law enforcement to apprehend criminals, whether they are from this country or not. We cannot comment further as DHS did not provide information as to how the incorrect determination of states, counties, and cities were made but we hope it continues to be fixed.”
Colorado Congressional representatives Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert, and Jeff Crank issued a joint letter in January to Governor Polis urging him to reverse policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal agents.
Two of the three policies mentioned by the reps, HB 19-1124 and HB 23-1100, are the basis of a lawsuit against the state of Colorado by Douglas County that was filed last year and dismissed in December 2024. The case has been appealed and is still ongoing. El Paso, Elbert, Garfield, Mesa, and Rio Blanco Counties are also plaintiffs in the suit.
Boulder experienced an attack on Sunday in which eight people were injured, according to ABC News. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, arrived in the United States in August 2022 with a six-month visa. The visa expired in February 2023 and he was granted work authorization in March 2023.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller blamed Biden administration policies for the attack in a post on X, but there is no indication that Boulder’s policies prevented actions from being taken to deport Soliman when he overstayed his visa.
Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams said on Facebook that he will be guest hosting the Dan Caplis Show today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be speaking with Border Czar Tom Homan about Colorado’s designation as a sanctuary state and Sunday’s terrorist attack in Boulder.
