Colorado Rep. Junie Joseph (D-Boulder) and Rep. Naquetta Ricks (D-Aurora) held a press conference in response to President Donald Trump’s inauguration and planned actions on immigration.
“The issue we are addressing today is one of urgent importance, especially in the face of dangerous rhetoric and harmful policies that threaten the well-being of millions of immigrant families,” said Joseph. “Immigrants play an essential role in every aspect of life here in Colorado, contributing to our economy or culture and the future of our state.”
Since his inauguration, Trump has moved to cut off access to an app that facilitated the entry of hundreds of thousands of migrants, suspend the refugee system, promote greater cooperation between ICE and local and state governments, and end birthright citizenship.
“These first few days have begun with a series of executive orders that perpetuate xenophobia, transphobia, and restrict reproductive freedoms,” said Keilly Leon, the northern regional organizer for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. “These threats create trauma that last generations. No parents, no siblings, no child, or friend should have to live with this anxiety.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has already announced that he is joining other states in challenging Trump’s action on birthright citizenship. “The White House executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship is flatly unconstitutional,” said Weiser in a news release. “The idea that a president could override the Constitution with the stroke of a pen is a flagrant assault on the rule of law and our constitutional republic. The executive order cannot be allowed to stand, and I will fight to ensure that all who are born in the United States keep their right to fully and fairly be a part of American society as a citizen with all its benefits and privileges.”
During Wednesday’s press conference, immigrants and advocates spoke about the challenges they have faced. “As Coloradans, even those of us without a permanent legal status like DACA or TPS, or no immigration status at all, we all have rights under Colorado law and under the U.S. Constitution,” said Cristian Solano-Córdova, a Motus Theater UndocuAmerica monologist. “We must defend those legislative victories in Colorado that protect our families from unjust practices from ICE and ensure that our families and communities are informed on our rights so we are prepared to exercise them.”
Participants pushed back on narratives connecting immigrants to crime. “Those executive orders are full of harmful mischaracterizations, false narratives,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales (D-Denver) “Let me remind you — immigrants are more likely to be victims of crimes than perpetrators. We have a system of justice within our criminal legal system that ensures due process and constitutional protections for all. I don’t care where you were born. But what that fear and rhetoric and division ends up leading to are more threats, more attacks, children being afraid to engage in school, go to a library. With the rescission of the recent executive orders regarding sensitive locations, hospitals, schools, weddings, funerals, churches are now places where ICE think that they can come forward and conduct their activities. That doesn’t look like safety to me.”
Recently elected U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) defended Trump’s executive orders during an appearance this morning on Colorado’s Morning News. “We saw the headlines yesterday that just in the time that Trump has taken office, hundreds of these violent illegal criminals have been arrested by ICE,” he said, adding that Birthright Citizenship was not the “problem” but refusing to say whether he’d inform Trump of his concerns about Birthright Citizenship not being a problem. “We saw the data from ICE last year where they said over 13,000 convicted murderers are illegally present in our country and not in ICE custody. Over 600,000 convicted criminals convicted of other crimes are present in our country illegally, not in ICE custody. And so all of these things just bring us back to that common sense point of public safety, where we’re holding criminals in our community accountable, regardless of whether or not their citizens are here illegally.”
Boulder’s 20th Judicial District Attorney, Michael Dougherty discussed his commitment to justice. “As district attorney, I strongly believe that victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or hate crimes should be able to come forward to ensure justice is done and not have to hide in the shadows. Our mission is to protect all people from threats, hate crimes, and violent acts by holding offenders accountable — and I remain deeply committed to it,” he said. “With the current political rhetoric, many immigrants and LGBTQ individuals feel vulnerable and have valid concerns about the rollback of their rights and their safety. The ideals of equality, justice, and respect for all people are woven into the fabric of our Colorado values. We must not allow fear and hatred to take root in our communities. So, together, we must continue to stand for justice.”
