In a move that speaks to the balance between federal immigration policy enforcement and local law authority, Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero recently made it clear that his office intends to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) only in specific circumstances involving criminal activity. According to Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, while the local agency will provide support to ICE when there are criminal charges or a criminal nexus, there's no intention to assist in broad ICE round-up operations targeting individuals solely based on their immigration status.
According to Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Lucero said, "If there is something criminal related and we know the offender is in our county, absolutely we will support them," his perspective is rooted in the nuances of public safety rather than federal immigration law enforcement, the Sheriff emphasized the commitment to uphold Colorado law and prioritize the well-being of Pueblo County residents. Addressing concerns and rumors in the community, Lucero was firm about the limits of his office's support, affirming deputies' focus on threats to community safety rather than acting as agents of federal immigration policy.
The clarification from Sheriff Lucero comes amidst discussions and concerns about the presence and role of ICE in local communities, particularly in spaces like schools and churches. Expanding on this, Lucero emphasized that there's no evidence of a child within School District 70 committing crimes that would interest ICE agents, nor does his office maintain records on individuals based on their immigration status. This emphasizes the local law enforcement's aim to foster trust with Pueblo County residents regardless of their immigration standing.
