Northglenn police reiterate they won’t enforce civil immigration law; council seeks clearer public messaging

The Northglenn Police Department reaffirmed on Feb. 9 that it will not enforce civil immigration law and emphasized community policing, but council members pressed for clearer public messaging after residents expressed fear about federal immigration operations.

Chief Jim May said the department "does not enforce civil immigration law" and that Colorado statutes limit local involvement in civil immigration matters: "Those limits prohibit detentions based solely on immigration status, restrict information sharing, and prevent local police from assisting in civil immigration enforcement without proper judicial authority." He said officers should document and report incidents, preserve body‑worn camera evidence, and coordinate with prosecutors when appropriate.

Legal constraints and the word 'intervene': Council members and City Attorney Corey Hoffman explained legal risks if local officers attempted to obstruct or physically intervene in federal immigration operations. Hoffman cautioned that state law does not impose a duty on local officers to physically intervene against federal enforcement, and that attempts to obstruct federal officers could expose local officers to federal prosecution.

Council expectations and resident concerns: Several council members and residents said they wanted stronger local assurances. Mayor Meredith Leidy asked staff to put plain-language guidance online, to define what "intervene" means in municipal statements, and to ensure materials are available in Spanish. Deputy Chief and staff said the department already has some Spanish-language materials on its website and would verify translations.

Public comment: Residents on the phone and in the chamber described fear and frustration. Kevin (Carlisle Street) said he does not feel safe and asked how the city will protect people if federal agents enter neighborhoods. A caller, Steven Musko, urged caution about appearing "anti-ICE" and asked the city to post contact information for state and federal officials so residents can advocate.

Next steps: Council directed staff to publish clear guidance about what the Northglenn Police will and will not do during federal immigration activity, confirm Spanish translations, and continue outreach to state and federal representatives. No change in departmental policy was adopted during the meeting.