EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed El Paso County from its list of sanctuary jurisdictions after initially including it. The county appeared on the list Thursday but was taken off by Friday, prompting local officials to assert that the initial designation was an error.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal quickly responded to the announcement, stating his belief that DHS made a mistake and reaffirming that the county does not operate as a sanctuary jurisdiction.
In a joint statement, Sheriff Roybal was joined by Congressman Jeff Crank, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, and the El Paso County Commissioners — Carrie Geitner, Holly Williams, Bill Wysong, Cory Applegate, and Cami Bremer — who collectively emphasized their firm stance against illegal immigration and sanctuary policies.
“There is no daylight between President Trump and El Paso County on our efforts to combat illegal immigration and hold criminals accountable in the Pikes Peak region,” the statement read. “Coloradans are suffering from the failures of Biden’s open border policies, as well as sanctuary laws enacted by Governor Polis and his allies in the legislature.”
The officials expressed gratitude for the amended designation, noting that the record now reflects their commitment to public safety and law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
They also highlighted ongoing efforts to overturn Colorado’s sanctuary laws and pledged to continue cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials as allowed under state law. “Together, we have provided testimony, called attention to the rising crime rate, and fortified El Paso County as an anti-sanctuary,” the statement continued. “Let us be clear, we will not pander to Denver politicians, whose political agenda has made Colorado less safe for everyone.”
DHS issues the sanctuary jurisdiction list to identify localities it believes are undermining federal immigration laws, urging those jurisdictions to review and revise policies to better align with federal requirements.
Currently, DHS identifies 39 of Colorado’s 64 counties as sanctuary jurisdictions, including several in southern Colorado. El Paso County’s brief inclusion and swift removal from the list reflect ongoing debates over immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies within the state.
