Denver’s Sanctuary Policies Leave Colorado Vulnerable and Cost Taxpayers Millions

Denver has long been at the forefront of sanctuary policies, officially becoming a “sanctuary city” around 2013 and pioneering a trend that has transformed Colorado into a full-blown “sanctuary state”—and Coloradans are paying the price.

Legislation enacted by Democrat-dominated state lawmakers prohibits sheriffs from cooperating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement in identifying and deporting criminal migrants. This policy shields convicted criminals from deportation, releasing them back into Colorado communities instead of adhering to federal immigration laws...

In 2005, Colorado received $5 million in SCAAP reimbursements, with Denver accounting for $950,665 of this total. Neighboring states such as Arizona ($14.3 million) and California ($121 million) outpaced Colorado with significantly larger reimbursements, likely due to more effective reporting of incarcerated criminal migrants [illegal alien invaders]...

With Colorado’s state budget already facing a $1 billion deficit for FY 2026, failing to apply for federal dollars exacerbates an already dire fiscal situation. It’s not just a fiscal issue, though; public safety is at stake as criminal migrants are shielded from deportation and reintroduced into communities.