Mayor Johnston Takes Action to Protect Denver from Federal Overreach

Mayor Johnston Takes Action to Protect Denver from Federal Overreach

Published on February 26, 2026

Mayor Mike Johnston today took Executive Action to protect Denver residents from the Constitutional overreach of President Donald Trump and his administration.

Mayor Johnston was joined this afternoon by members of City Council, Police Chief Ron Thomas, Sheriff Elias Diggins, Safety Director Al Gardner, City Attorney Miko Brown, and others in announcing an Executive Order that lays out extensive provisions related to civil immigration enforcement.

"We seek not to provoke but to protect," said Mayor Mike Johnston. "In a time of great fear, we are reminding Denverites that there are still those you can trust and lines you can't cross. Our law enforcement and legal teams will stand up for civil liberties, and, if necessary, step in to protect the life and safety of our residents. This is our city, and we will defend the rights of every person in it."

"Denver police have a responsibility to protect and preserve the rule of law," said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. "As sworn officers we have a universal duty to intervene and are committed to investigating all incidents where members of the community are harmed."

"People in our community have rights, regardless of where they were born," said City Attorney Miko Brown. "Denver will continue fighting to protect these rights, uphold the Constitution, and guard against federal overreach."

The Executive Order announced today sets forth several protections and provisions, including but not limited to the following:

• Immigration enforcement agents are prohibited from staging on city property for the purposes of civil immigration enforcement barring a judicial warrant, court order, or as otherwise required by law.

• Duty to Intervene. Makes clear the responsibility of Denver Police and Denver Sheriff's Deputies to intervene in instances of force that could cause death or serious bodily injury by immigration enforcement agents.

• Duty to Provide Aid. Clarifies that Denver law enforcement will provide life-saving aid if necessary to individuals harmed by immigration enforcement agents.

• Duty to Investigate. Confirms Denver Police will document the activity of immigration enforcement agents through the use of body-worn cameras. Denver Police will conduct independent investigations into reported legal violations and make referrals of felony matters to the Denver District Attorney or Colorado Attorney General, regardless of whether a parallel federal investigation occurs.

• No city agency shall share its databases or technology use agreements with the Department of Homeland Security or its immigration enforcement partners without a subpoena, judicial warrant, court order, or except as required by law.

• Spaces that have traditionally remained off limits must continue to be so. This includes schools, churches, stadiums, libraries, and hospitals.

• Denver Police will never stop you based on your accent or the color of your skin. That same standard must be applied to all law enforcement, and so immigration officers may not racially profile our residents.

• In the event of civil immigration enforcement operations, police will use their established de-escalation protocols to protect peaceful protestors, their First Amendment rights, and ensure public health, welfare, and safety.

While Denver cannot prevent the federal government from conducting civil immigration enforcement - and while we will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to remove violent criminals from our streets - the city has a responsibility to its residents to ensure their Constitutional rights are protected and that they are able to live safely.

You can read the text of the Executive Order here.

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