Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Immigration Policy

Colorado House panel advances immigration bill after hours of testimony
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado House panel advances immigration bill after hours of testimony

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice After hours of testimony that moved between legal arguments, the House Judiciary committee advanced a sweeping immigration bill Tuesday. House Bill 26-1276 passed the committee on a 6–5 vote. The "Protect Safety of Individuals Who Are Immigrants" bill, sponsored by Reps. Elizabeth Velasco and Lorena García, focuses on how state and local entities interact with federal immigration enforcement through information sharing, task-force reporting, detention oversight and the use of public resources. Velasco told the committee the bill grew out of what sponsors saw as gaps in existing law. "This bill was written in response to issues…as well as growing concerns that we are seeing across Colorado and the nation," she said. That includ...
Democrats Sound Alarm Over “Secret” ICE Facilities Publicly Listed Online
Uncategorized, Approved, DENVER7, State

Democrats Sound Alarm Over “Secret” ICE Facilities Publicly Listed Online

By: Natalie Chuck | Denver7 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen is joining the chorus of Democratic leaders demanding answers from ICE. DENVER — Several Democratic politicians in Colorado are sounding the alarm over what they call "secret" ICE facilities after an online news outlet published an article last week. But are they really a secret? On Wednesday, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen took to multiple social media platforms, expressing her concerns over "secret ICE holding cells." In her posts, Rep. Pettersen attributed her claims to the Colorado Times Recorder, which posted an article saying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained people for weeks at a time in "secretive" facilities. The Recorder's article was written an...
If you don’t defend it, you don’t own it: DeGette’s open border gamble
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

If you don’t defend it, you don’t own it: DeGette’s open border gamble

By Tom Anthony | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The road to owning property resembles a superhighway to some and a Colorado jeep trail to others. To the Sioux it resembled a torn up mass of earth and buffalo chips; to the Comanche, four hooves and a mane. To me, who has come by it in fits, starts, dead ends, and reversals the road signs say: "Adverse possession," "Fence Out State," "Prescriptive Easement," "Permit Required," "Tax Lien Sale," and "Eminent Domain." In other words, nothing too simple about it. I see Congresswoman DeGette, married to a judge and who has held down the 1st Congressional seat in Colorado since 1997, now wants to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the federal government. In other words, dissolve the borders. T...
DPS Board Hears Divided Testimony On Proposed Immigration Safe Zone Policy
DENVER7, Approved, Local

DPS Board Hears Divided Testimony On Proposed Immigration Safe Zone Policy

By Tyler Melito | Denver7 The proposed policy aims to make schools, bus stops and school events 'safe zones' from ICE. DENVER, Colo. - As tensions rise between ICE agents and communities across the country, Colorado's largest school district is considering a new policy that they say will protect students. The board is proposing a policy that would create safe zones at all district-managed and charter school properties — including school buildings, grounds, bus stops, school transportation and school-sponsored events — for students families and employees. On Thursday, the community had the chance to weigh in. "Protect and defend our immigrant students, parents, families, community members and employees, ensuring they are safe, valued, respected and ...
Trump Taps Oklahoma Sen Markwayne Mullin To Lead Homeland Security
The Daily Signal, Approved, National

Trump Taps Oklahoma Sen Markwayne Mullin To Lead Homeland Security

By Virginia Allen | The Daily Signal Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin said he was “humbled” to be President Donald Trump’s nominee as the next homeland security secretary, replacing Kristi Noem. “Humbling,” Mullin told press when asked of his first reaction to his nomination. “I had to call my dad … because it happened quick. I had to call my wife,” Mullin said, adding, “It’s just, you know, pretty humbling when you start thinking about it: A little kid from Westville, Oklahoma, gets to serve in the president’s Cabinet. That’s pretty neat.” When Mullin is confirmed, he says his priority will be to enforce the laws Congress has passed. “My focus is to keep the homeland secure. That’s going to be my focus, and we’re super excited about this op...
Denver Public Schools Considers Safe Zone Policy Limiting ICE Access Without Warrants
DENVER7, Approved, Local

Denver Public Schools Considers Safe Zone Policy Limiting ICE Access Without Warrants

By: Allie Jennerjahn | Denver7 DENVER — A Denver Public Schools (DPS) hearing is scheduled Thursday to discuss labeling all school property as "safe zones" for students, families and staff. This includes bus stops, transportation and school-sponsored events. The proposed policy would require United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE )agents and other federal officials to present a warrant before any student can be questioned or detained. Students at DPS have been contacted by ICE during lunch and dismissal, according to Denver-based advocacy group Movimiento Poder said. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT DENVER7
The Rorschach republic: The MLK test for a divided nation
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Think Again USA

The Rorschach republic: The MLK test for a divided nation

By Melanie Sturm | Commentary, Think Again USA Substack From ICE to Epstein to gender medicine, we keep seeing what we want in the ink blots. See if you pass the MLK Test. Same ink blot. Different realities. Do you pass the MLK Test? We are living through a Rorschach moment. We look at the same ink blots — the border, Epstein, gender medicine — and swear we’re seeing opposite realities. I was reminded of that recently when I found myself seated next to a gentleman at a luncheon. We discovered easy common ground: he grew up in Indiana, I grew up in Nebraska. We traded a few jokes about Hoosiers and Huskers swapping basketball and football fortunes. Then the conversation turned to Indiana’s former fiery basketball coach Bobby Knight, whom he idolized growin...
Texas Democrat says President Trump’s State of the Union changed her vote
USA Today, Approved, Commentary, National

Texas Democrat says President Trump’s State of the Union changed her vote

By Joni Werner | Commentary, USA TODAY I believe Trump has only the best interests of the U.S. at the core of all his decisions. I do believe the changes he has made are working. Democrats should offer him more support. I watched President Donald Trump's entire 2026 State of the Union speech. And I loved it! Watching it made me more likely to vote in the midterm elections. This was the first time I wasn't bored and actually agreed with everything he had to say. I appreciate his businessman's approach to the economy and tariffs. I loved that he celebrated the people directly affected by his policy changes and celebrated the economy wins by putting America first. I am disappointed in all the elected leaders who refused to celebrate th...
High Court Declines Sovereign Immunity Shortcut For Private Prison Firm In Colorado Case
DENVER7, Approved, State

High Court Declines Sovereign Immunity Shortcut For Private Prison Firm In Colorado Case

By The Associated Press | Denver7 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled against a private prison company facing a lawsuit alleging immigration detainees were forced to work and paid only $1 a day in Colorado. The unanimous ruling is a procedural defeat for the GEO Group, but it's not a final decision. The company is fighting a lawsuit from 2014 alleging detainees in Aurora had to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for little pay to supplement meager meals. GEO defended its practices and argued that the case should be tossed out because it's immune from lawsuits as a government contractor. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT DENVER7
The Right champions citizens first. The Left fumes at the idea.
The Federalist, Approved, Commentary, National

The Right champions citizens first. The Left fumes at the idea.

By Elle Purnell | Commentary, The Federalist At Tuesday’s State of the Union, Democrats set themselves up as angry foils to basic civics and feel-good American patriotism. In the most made-for-TV of many made-for-TV moments in Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump urged every member of Congress to “stand up and show your support” for the statement: “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” Cameras panned to show nearly the entire left-hand side of the chamber awkwardly remaining in their seats. After two minutes of Republican cheering and Democrat scowling, Trump suggested that Democrats should “be ashamed of yourselves,” and the cameras showed Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Mogadishu, shouting an...