Colorado Gov. Jared Polis directed state employees to turn over information on sponsors of undocumented children to federal immigration authorities, despite protests that the order violated state laws limiting cooperation, according to a new lawsuit filed by a senior official.

Scott Moss, a director within the state Department of Labor and Employment, alleged in the suit filed Wednesday evening that Polis personally decided to comply with an administrative subpoena from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The subpoena was part of “investigative activities to locate unaccompanied alien children” and to ensure they were being cared for, according to the lawsuit.

But Moss, in a four-page memo protesting the legality of the request, alleged that the subpoena “is for purposes of finding minors to deport.”

Moss is now asking a Denver District Court judge to immediately block Polis’ order to furnish the information, which Moss was directed to complete by the end of the day Friday. In the suit, Moss’ attorneys allege that Moss and other employees are being asked to choose between illegally turning over information or risking termination for refusing Polis’ directive.

(Update: In a stipulation filed by his attorney Friday, Polis agreed not to fulfill the subpoena or direct any state employees to do so until after the judge ruled on Moss’ request to block Polis’ directive.)

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