GOV. HICKENLOOPER SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER LIMITING USE OF STATE RESOURCES TO SEPARATE CHILDREN FROM PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS ON SOLE GROUND OF IMMIGRATION STATUS / NEWS RELEASE
DENVER — Monday, June 18, 2018 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today signed an executive order, in response to the Trump administration’s family separation policy, that keeps Colorado from using state resources to separate children from their parents or legal guardians on the sole ground of immigration status.
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s policy and practice of separating children from their parents when arriving at the southern border is offensive to our core values as Coloradans and as a country,” the executive order states. “The administration announced a ‘zero tolerance’ policy in the spring of 2018 resulting in family separations. The administration has recently stated that the purpose of the policy is to intimidate immigrants and deter crossings.”
The executive order directs that:
– No state agency may deprive any person of services or benefits to which he or she is legally entitled because of a person’s immigration status, except as required by state or federal law.
– No state agency may use any state resources, including but not limited to moneys, equipment, or personnel, for the purpose of separating any child from his or her parent or legal guardian on the sole ground that such parent or legal guardian is present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.
Executive Order B 2018-008 applies only to those cases where children are being separated from parents solely based on their immigration status. It does not apply to cases where a court has determined it is in the best interest of the child for him or her to be removed from his or her parent or legal guardian, or where state officials believe a child is a victim, or is at significant risk of becoming a victim, of abuse or human trafficking. This comes after Gov. Hickenlooper sent a letter urging Congressional action to stop the administration from continuing their policy to separate children.
