Polis sued over ICE data handoff involving migrant child sponsors

By Alayna Alvarez

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.

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