The Trump Administration stands by ICE policy in Denver lawsuit, defending their actions

The Trump Administration has argued that preventing immigration enforcement near schools would hinder efforts to curb illegal immigration, in response to a lawsuit filed by Denver Public Schools. The district sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the administration rescinded a policy that limited enforcement actions near sensitive locations. ICE attorneys claim that restricting enforcement near schools would significantly limit their ability to conduct operations in Denver due to the large number of schools in the district. The sensitive locations policy, which has been in place for over 30 years, aimed to avoid enforcement actions at places such as schools, churches, and hospitals unless there was an imminent threat to public safety. The district argues that ending this policy was arbitrary and capricious, with ICE agents reportedly leading to a decrease in school attendance following recent raids. Superintendent Alex Marrero stated that raids near schools have impacted attendance, particularly in areas with a high population of new-to-country families. The Trump Administration contends that ICE agents have not entered school grounds, and the district did not provide evidence of a decline in attendance. The administration’s reversal of the policy under Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman allows agents to target criminals using common sense. Governor Jared Polis has allocated funds to address the strain on the education system caused by an influx of immigrants in Colorado.