These raids do not serve as a constructive action to address the fragmented and broken immigration system in our country. Instead, they serve to instill fear and insecurity and feed anti-immigrant and racist sentiments that divide and separate neighbors and neighborhoods from each other.

- Board of Boulder County Commissioners

Statement from the Board of Boulder County Commissioners

The Boulder County Commissioners condemn President Trump’s and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s announced plans to conduct immigration raids beginning this weekend in Denver and in many cities across the nation.

These raids do not serve as a constructive action to address the fragmented and broken immigration system in our country. Instead, they serve to instill fear and insecurity and feed anti-immigrant and racist sentiments that divide and separate neighbors and neighborhoods from each other.

Furthermore, indiscriminate raids have detrimental impacts through increased expense to local governments and law enforcement, and to local economies, through decreases in labor force, production, consumption of goods, and tourism. They can also negatively impact public safety by inhibiting reporting of crimes and fostering distrust of government, making our communities less safe for everyone.

As we have stated before, Boulder County is committed to providing a safe and welcoming community for all, a place where all people are able to reach their potential and live healthy happy lives in the pursuit of economic opportunity and social equity. We also believe comprehensive immigration reform should include a humanitarian and compassionate response to individuals seeking to live in the U.S. and should aim to keep families together.

Immigrants are – and have always been – an important part of the Boulder County community and we stand with other community leaders and elected officials in opposing the reckless actions planned by ICE.

We want all immigrants to know their legal rights and to seek support through the many resources available in our community, including information available on these two websites:

• The Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County (where anyone can ask a question and a response is promised within the hour)
• Boulder County’s webpage on local immigrant resources

Most importantly, we want you to know that we stand strong in our commitment to be inclusive of all members of our community, to support equality and opportunity for everyone.

Sincerely,

Deb Gardner, Elise Jones, Matt Jones
Boulder County Commissioners

[July 12, 2019]