Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civil Rights Immigration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Colorado Senate adopts resolution condemning proposed federal use of Alien Enemies Act; cites Amache internment
Summary
The Colorado Senate on Feb. 19 adopted Senate Resolution 005, denouncing federal plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act and invoking the memory of wartime internment at Amache; the measure passed 22-12 after amendment and debate.
The Colorado Senate on Feb. 19 adopted Senate Resolution 005, condemning proposed federal use of the Alien Enemies Act to target noncitizens and calling on state leaders to support immigrant communities. The resolution passed 22 ayes to 12 noes.
Senate Resolution 005, introduced by Senator Gonzales and Senator Judah, was amended and debated on the Senate floor before final passage. The measure criticizes recent federal statements and executive actions and cites the World War II-era forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, including the Amache site in Colorado.
The resolution’s sponsors framed the measure as both a historical reminder and a present-day warning. “This history lives on and is part of our Colorado story,” Senator Gonzales said on the floor, referencing Amache and the 1942 removal orders. Senator Judah, a co-prime sponsor, said representing Aurora — “one of the most diverse cities” — shaped her support: “I have a commitment to not only my constituents but to the people of Aurora … to make sure that they do not feel threatened,” she said.
Senators who supported the measure spoke of due process and the multigenerational harms of wartime policies. Senator Weisman urged colleagues to “learn something from the shameful moment in our history” and invoked the Supreme Court’s later disavowal of Korematsu-era reasoning. Minority comments recorded concerns about the draft language and process, noting the resolution had been introduced the previous day and amended quickly on the floor.
The Senate adopted amendment L001 earlier in the day by voice vote and then approved the amended resolution on final consideration by roll call. The resolution asks the governor to voice support for immigrant communities and calls on Colorado’s U.S. senators to back federal legislation titled the Neighbors Not Enemies Act to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.
Votes at a glance on the resolution: amendment L001 was adopted (voice/roll call recorded earlier); final adoption of SR005: 22 ayes, 12 no, 0 absent, 0 excused, 1 vacant. Named no votes on the final roll included Senators Simpson, Frizzell, Catlin, Pelton R., Baisley, Rich, Liston, Carson, Wright, KirkMeyer and others as recorded on the floor.
The resolution cites historical events and federal actions described on the floor; it does not itself change state law. The sponsors and several senators emphasized the symbolic and communicative intent of the measure, asking state leaders to speak publicly and affirm protections for immigrants and residents who fear enforcement actions.
Adoption of SR005 sends a formal message from the Colorado Senate but does not impose state-level legal restrictions. The resolution text and the roll-call record are part of the Senate journal and are posted with the chamber’s public materials.
