You can’t make this stuff up. Colorado Politics lays out the situation where the governor signs a “non-cooperation” law, then turns around and tells local law enforcement they can and should work with the DEA anyway.
This is about Colorado’s new Senate Bill 25-276 and the real-world confusion it’s causing for cops and deputies who are trying to chase drug traffickers while also not getting crosswise with state law and a $50,000 civil penalty. It’s playing out statewide, with the DEA warning about a chilling effect and the governor insisting the exemption for criminal investigations should keep cooperation moving.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Gov. Jared Polis says Colorado local officers can cooperate with federal authorities like the DEA on criminal investigations.
- DEA leadership says Colorado “sanctuary” style laws are creating a chilling effect where locals hesitate to share even basic information.
- Senate Bill 25-276 reemphasizes limits on local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and expands restrictions to political subdivisions, with a $50,000 civil fine per violation.
- The law includes an exemption for criminal investigations, which Polis points to as the guardrail that allows DEA cooperation.
- Tension between state and federal collaboration is showing up in day-to-day practice, including changes in information-sharing channels.
My Bottom Line
This is just classic Governor Gaslight, isn’t it?! You do not get to sign a bill that scares the daylights out of line officers, then act surprised when the DEA says cooperation is getting icy.
Here’s the problem in plain English: Polis signs the legislation, but when the consequences show up, he wants to blame “education” and pretend it’s all just a misunderstanding. No, Governor. The incentive structure matters. When you hang a $50,000 penalty over somebody’s head, you don’t get “clarity.” You get hesitation.
And yes, holy unintended consequences, Batman. If state law is written so broadly that locals worry a drug stop can turn into an immigration lawsuit, then of course, they get cautious. That’s not because deputies are dumb. It’s because they’re accountable, and they don’t want to get hung out to dry.
If your policy needs a translator to work, it’s a bad policy.
Stop writing laws that handcuff local cops in the name of theater, then acting offended when criminals notice.
I’m all for local control and clear lanes of authority. If the state wants to limit immigration detainers, fine, debate that honestly. But don’t pretend you can wall off “federal” into neat boxes when cartels, fentanyl, and human trafficking don’t care about your press release. Colorado needs laws that let law enforcement hit crime hard, protect due process, and give our officers clarity they can actually use at 2 a.m. on the side of the road.
Source: Colorado Politics
