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Denver teacher urges state action to protect residents from ICE, cites stalled 2018 bill
Summary
A Denver Public Schools teacher urged city leaders to partner with the General Assembly to pass legislation protecting residents' constitutional rights from ICE enforcement, citing a 2018 bill he said was postponed indefinitely and urging renewed legislative action.
Andrew Oakes, a Denver Public Schools social studies and American history teacher, used the council's public comment period to call for state-level legislation he said would protect residents from federal immigration enforcement and preserve constitutional rights.
"Please protect the citizens of Colorado, and please partner with the general assembly," Oakes told the council. He said federal officials will not be deterred by city requests and urged the state legislature to enact statutes that expressly affirm residents' rights, including the right to film and observe ICE activity.
Oakes referenced a 2018 proposal he identified in his remarks as "House bill 18 1 4 1 7," which he said was "postponed indefinitely" after committee consideration; he urged that lawmakers not repeat that outcome and called for new legislation to strengthen protections at the state level.
Oakes framed his plea as a defense of civil rights for students, families and immigrant communities and said city leaders should "partner with the General Assembly" on legislative remedies. The public comment record includes no response from city council members or staff during the session and no formal city action was recorded on the subject.
The teacher's remarks were presented during the public comment portion of the council meeting and did not trigger debate or a council referral in the transcript.
