Colorado chose politics over public safety and now our communities pay the price
By Chris Richardson and Max Brooks
This week, federal authorities arrested Jose Barrera-Bolanos in Denver. He is an illegal immigrant who had already been convicted of sexually assaulting a child. That fact alone should stop every parent, grandparent and lawmaker in Colorado in their tracks.
This was not a minor offense. This was not a paperwork issue. This was a violent crime against a child. Yet this individual remained in our community long enough for federal authorities to have to track him down later. That reality raises a simple and important question. Why was someone with a serious criminal conviction not removed sooner?
The answer lies in Colorado law.
During the last decade, state lawmakers have passed a series of policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. These laws were marketed as compassionate and protective. In practice, they have made it harder to remove dangerous criminals from our streets, even after they have been arrested and convicted of serious crimes.
Last year, we tried to change that.
