A Colorado sheriff accused President Donald Trump‘s administration of using “intimidation” to force police to work with federal immigration authorities.
On April 28, Trump signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to publish a list of states and local jurisdictions “that obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.”
“This executive order is an attempt to federalize, by intimidation, the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office to do the current administration’s bidding on their political cause of the day,” San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters said in a statement on Friday.
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security and Masters’ office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump, who has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history, has pledged to deploy state and federal law enforcement agencies to assist his plans.
Under the 287(g) program, law enforcement agencies are authorized to question and detain individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
Local police officers who are deputized through agreements such as the 287(g) program are granted authority to enforce federal immigration laws. These partnerships facilitate direct collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, often resulting in more coordinated enforcement actions and immigration sweeps within communities.
What To Know
The Department of Justice said on Friday that it had filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado, the city of Denver and specific officials it alleged enforced “sanctuary laws” that hindered federal immigration efforts.
Denver’s mayor and Colorado’s governor have denied the existence of such laws.
“I strongly support the investigation of and arrest of all persons, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, who commit serious crimes. Over the past 50 years, I have arrested dozens of undocumented persons and at times their human smugglers, sometimes by the van load,” Masters said.
He added that the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with federal law enforcement partners in accordance with the limits set by Colorado law.
The president’s new order calls for pursuing “all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures” against jurisdictions that continue to oppose the administration’s immigration crackdown.
The order maintains that federal immigration laws supersede state legislation, arguing that continued resistance from state and local authorities on immigration matters could jeopardize national security and potentially violate federal law. Jurisdictions found to be noncompliant may face the loss of federal funding and contracts.
However, legal challenges have curtailed the administration’s efforts to strip funding from sanctuary cities. In recent years, federal courts have consistently ruled against attempts to penalize jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
In April, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting the White House’s plan to cut funding to certain cities—including San Francisco, Portland and Seattle—citing constitutional concerns over separation of powers and executive overreach.
Masters expressed concern that increased federal involvement in local law enforcement could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations on either side of the political spectrum.
“As concerned as I am regarding federalization of local peacekeepers for immigration enforcement, I also see this current attempt as opening the door for future administrations to consider requiring local Sheriffs to enforce federal laws to arrest firearm owners, political opponents, protestors, etc.,” he said.
What People Are Saying
San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters said in a statement on May 2: “To this day, the Sheriff’s Office cooperates within the confines of Colorado law with our federal partners, and vigorously investigates and arrests those persons who have active arrest warrants issued for their detention that have been reviewed, approved, and signed by a judge as Colorado law and the U.S. Constitution require.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on April 28: “It’s quite simple: Obey the law, respect the law, and don’t obstruct federal immigration officials and law enforcement officials when they are simply trying to remove public safety threats from our nation’s communities.
“The American public don’t want illegal alien criminals in their communities. They made that quite clear on November 5, and this administration is determined to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.”
What Happens Next
Masters, who announced his retirement earlier this year, is set to leave his post by June.
He said in Friday’s statement, “Although I am Sheriff of this great county for only another 30 days, I want to assure our local residents that during my short remaining tenure, I will follow Colorado law and not permit the federal government to use my office for political purposes.”
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