Hickenlooper Applauds Denver Lawsuit to Block Armed ICE Agents at Voting Sites

Hickenlooper has previously introduced legislation to stop Trump from using federal law enforcement to interfere with elections WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the below statement applauding the lawsuit filed by the City of Denver and civil right groups to block armed ICE agents at voting sites. “The only conceivable reason for ICE to be at polling places is to spread the same fear and intimidation we’ve already seen in our communities,” said Hickenlooper. “Every eligible American should be able to cast their ballot freely and safely. We’ll keep fighting tooth and nail to protect that sacred right.” Earlier this year, Hickenlooper introduced the Protect our Polls Act that would restrict the deployment of armed federal law enforcement or military forces to polling places. He has pushed for efforts that would prevent immigration enforcement from targeting polling locations, as well as schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Hickenlooper has been outspoken in the face of ICE’s lawlessness and demanded a top-to-bottom overhaul of the agency to stop ICE from terrorizing our communities. Hickenlooper also voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to overhaul ICE. He has consistently pushed for more oversight and transparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. In January, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, condemn the reports that families in Eagle County found “death cards” left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He’s shown up at ICE facilities previously to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process. He helped launch an investigation into ICE’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight, introduced legislation to ban ICE from wearing masks, and pushed to cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave to ICE. ###