Local immigrant advocates have been working alongside Denver officials drafting a new undocumented immigrant policy which in part would outline how local law enforcement interact with federal immigration agents.

The proposed policy includes stipulations against local law enforcement holding immigrants past their release date for Immigrant and Customs Enforcement authorities and communication between local authorities and ICE, said Ana Rodriguez, immigrant justice organizer with Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA).

Declining to share the full framework, Rodriguez said the policy will be unveiled at a public forum April 27 at Denver Inner City Parish. The mayor and City Council members have been invited.

Rodriguez said the proposed policy is the product of months of meetings between several immigrant rights groups including COPA the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) and Together Colorado and the City of Denver.

“This is only the very beginning of this conversation and hopefully our community needs will be highlighted and the cities willingness to work with us on this,” Rodriguez said.

In an email to supporters, CIRC said it is “escalating its statewide movement for immigration rights,” and urging Denver officials to create “true sanctuary city policy” and get “out of the business of immigration enforcement to create a welcoming city for all.”

Denver will however continue to honor requests from ICE — not holding individuals past their release date unless a warrant has been issued — and maintain communication with ICE “to ensure we’re protecting our residents from violent and dangerous criminals,” Mayor’s Office Deputy Communications Director Jenna Espinoza said.

“Denver will always take the necessary steps to protect its residents from harm, including the harm resulting from a broken immigration system,” Espinoza said.

Denver has avoided taking formal action to declare itself a sanctuary city, since the label provides no protections, she said.

Rather the city is focused on “enacting policies and practices that protect people’s safety and their rights, including the rights of immigrants, while allowing federal authorities to focus on immigration enforcement that removes dangerous and violent felons from our streets,” Espinoza said.

“We should all focus on creating a system where federal and local governments respect each other’s respective roles and work together to eliminate any gaps,” Espinoza said.

Under Trump’s executive order signed in late January, federal funds would be withheld from cities labeled sanctuary jurisdictions. In the orders wake, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests have rose 32.6 percent, the Washington Post reports. Among those deported locally was Maria de Jesus Jimenez Sanchez, an Aurora resident and mother of four.

Rodriguez said many of the groups members are terrified of the current situation under the Trump administration, even wary of going to court.

“Immigrants are under attack,” she said.

“We want to make sure when our community members go to court they are safe and the city is doing everything possible to protect our folks in the city,” she said.

Following reports of immigration arrests in the city, Mayor Michael Hancock and the Denver City Council sent a letter to ICE authorities asking they respect sensitive areas like schools and courthouses.

“This is a simple request for immigration officials to enforce federal laws while respecting sensitive areas so our residents can go about their daily lives,” Hancock said.

A vague executive order from the Trump administration has caused anxiety within the immigrant community and concern that the city needs to change its practices, Espinoza said.

“Denver has no cause to change how we operate,” she said. “The White House can label us whatever they want — and they can lob threats — we will not change our policies or practices unless it is to improve, strengthen safety and rights in Denver.”

— adam@coloradostatesman.com