The Justice Department sued Colorado and Denver allegedly interfering in federal immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit filed Friday in Colorado District Court, accusing the state and its most populous city of committing “sanitation laws” that violates the supremacy of the Constitution.
"The United States has good, outstanding and preemptive powers to regulate immigration affairs," the lawsuit reads.
Sanctuary cities are areas where seeking to protect immigrants without legal status and working with federal officials to enforce immigration laws.
More than 100 illegal immigrants arrested in Colorado Springs mass attack on underground nightclubs
During a press conference, officials gathered outside one of the buildings in an apartment building called The Edge, outlining the five housing structures closed in New York City, Aurora, Colorado on February 19, 2025. (AP)
U.S. immigration and customs enforce federal immigration laws across the country, but support from state and local officials, especially mass deportations. The agency also asked the police department and the sheriff's office to mark immigrants to be deported until federal agents can be detained.
The Justice Department filed similar lawsuits in Rochester, New York and Chicago, challenging the "asylum policy."
Lawyers for the department believe Colorado’s “asylum policy” allows Venezuelan gang Trend Alagua (TDA) to seize control of apartment buildings in the suburbs of Aurora Denver.
Local officials described President Donald Trump's claim that the gang was exaggerated by large swaths of the city but admitted that apartment buildings had been terrorist attacks, including those with TDA connections.
The Justice Department filed similar lawsuits in Rochester, New York and Chicago, challenging the "asylum policy." (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Colorado lawsuit lists the defendants as Gov. Jared Polis, the state legislature, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
The Polis office said Colorado is not a sheltered state and regularly works with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
"If the court says any Colorado law is invalid, we will comply with that ruling," spokesman Conor Cahill told the Associated Press. "We will not comment on the merits of the lawsuit."
Republican lawmakers seek to deprive their sanctuary city policy
The Justice Department lawsuit lists defendants as Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the state legislature, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Republicans in Congress are trying to put pressure on officials in Democratic-led cities to work with the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which include promises of mass deportation.
Republican lawmakers summoned the mayor of Denver, Boston, New York City and Chicago to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last month. But the mayor pushed back and defended their city as a place of enthusiasm, rather than a lawless dangerous zone. The mayor also called on Congress to pass immigration reform.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.