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Routt County officials to issue statement on ICE detainers, say they will follow Colorado law
Summary
At a Jan. 27 Routt County work session, county staff reported the sheriff's office and the Steamboat Springs Police Department plan a joint press release saying they will follow Colorado law and will not honor administrative ICE detainers except when a judicial warrant exists.
At a Jan. 27 Routt County Board of Commissioners work session, county staff reported that the sheriff's office and the Steamboat Springs Police Department plan to issue a joint press release clarifying their position on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers.
County staff member Eric told commissioners the sheriff and the Steamboat Springs police chief asked for the statement amid community questions about how local law enforcement will respond to federal detainer requests under the new federal administration. Eric said the agencies intend to make clear they will follow Colorado law and will not honor administrative detainers issued by ICE.
"We're not gonna honor, administrative detainers issued by ICE," Eric said, adding that detainers are not judicial orders and that the sheriff's office has not historically treated them as such. He said judicial warrants or court-ordered detainers would be honored.
Eric also said the sheriff's office and the Steamboat Springs Police Department have a good working relationship with federal partners and do not expect operational problems locally, but that federal preemption questions would be evaluated case by case. He added the county intends to make the press release as broad as possible and to involve nearby municipalities, including Hayden.
Commissioners responded positively to the report and expressed support for following state law. No formal vote was recorded at the work session; the item was presented as an operational update and a planned public statement from law enforcement.
Why it matters: Local law enforcement practice on detainers affects how local jails process custody holds and has been the subject of public concern in communities across the country. Routt County's planned statement will clarify the local agencies' interpretation of Colorado statutes and the county's operational stance.
