In The News
Polis sued over ICE data handoff involving migrant child sponsors
Jun 5, 2025
In the same week that activists sounded the alarm over a recent uptick in ICE arrests at Denver's federal immigration court, a senior state official sued Gov. Jared Polis, accusing the Democrat of aiding the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
The big picture: The whistleblower lawsuit — filed Wednesday by Scott Moss, one of the governor's top labor officials — alleges that Polis ordered state employees to hand over personal information on residents sponsoring unaccompanied migrant children, despite laws the governor signed explicitly prohibiting such cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
According to the lawsuit, Polis' contested directive ordered staff to comply with a Department of Homeland Security subpoena or risk termination.
Why it matters: The governor now stands further at odds not only with the legislature and local leaders who have long resisted federal immigration enforcement, but with his own record.
Just weeks ago, Polis increased protections for immigrants. Now he is accused of undercutting them.
Catch up quick: On April 24, Homeland Security Investigations subpoenaed the state of Colorado for wage data, leave filings, home addresses and more on 35 sponsors of unaccompanied minors.
Polis' office initially resisted. Weeks later, however, the governor allegedly reversed course and ordered compliance, despite a 2025 law barring such disclosures without a court order.
Read More at Axios