HB23-1143 permits recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to become law enforcement officers.
The House passed HB23-1143 on March 6, 2023, by a vote of 46 to 18. We have assigned pluses to the noes because persons who enter the United States illegally—which, by definition, is a crime—should not be permitted sanctuary or residency in Colorado, let alone be considered eligible for appointment as local police officers and deputy sheriffs. Rather than pursue a blatantly unconstitutional and anti-American policy that erodes both the rule of law and the value of citizenship, the General Assembly should use its powers reserved under the U.S. Constitution’s 10th Amendment to end the crisis of illegal immigration and provide for the public safety.