Amendment 81: Notification of U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Certain Criminal Charges and Immigration Status Initiative

Today an officer can be fined $50,000 for making that call. Amendment 81 requires it: notice only, no new arrest powers.

Passing this one would force local police departments to work more closely with ICE. Most Coloradans don’t want ICE coming into our communities — but voters were tricked into signing the petition to get this one on the ballot, as the Colorado Times Recorder has revealed. (Advance Colorado is behind this measure. As a dark money group, they don’t have to reveal their funding sources, but many people suspect they get a lot of money from the private prison industry, which would benefit from this law.)

"Amendment 81 opens the door for all Coloradans, including U.S. citizens, to be targeted by ICE based on how they look or talk. Under Amendment 81, state and local law enforcement are required to notify ICE when they charge Coloradans with certain crimes before a court has decided if that person is guilty or not. If passed, Amendment 81 will expand ICE's power in Colorado by permanently amending the Colorado Constitution and overriding current state laws limiting ICE authority."
from CO Immigrant Right Coalition

Applies after formal charges, before a finding of guilt. A prior felony triggers review even for a new traffic or petty offense. Reporting before conviction risks due-process violations and deportation of innocent or lawfully present people. Undefined terms and officer discretion could produce unequal enforcement and discourage crime reporting and cooperation. Ice is already violating citizen's constitutional rights, I don't want to make that easier for them.

Requires local law enforcement to communicate with ICE about undocumented people.

On its own this might be reasonable, but I can’t support anything that aids or abets the current situation. Abolish ICE.