Bennet, Hickenlooper, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Demand Answers From DHS on Aurora Detention Facility Shooting

About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Hickenlooper, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Demand Answers From DHS on Aurora Detention Facility Shooting Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senator John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, and Brittany Pettersen in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers following last month’s shooting by a GEO Group employee near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) […] Aug 8, 2026 | Press Releases Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senator John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, and Brittany Pettersen in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers following last month’s shooting by a GEO Group employee near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Aurora that left one person injured. The lawmakers also called for a thorough review of the Department’s policies to help prevent similar incidents. The letter seeks answers about DHS and ICE’s coordination with local law enforcement, employee training, contractor vetting, security protocols, and the steps the agencies are taking to strengthen oversight and prevent harmful incidents. “We write to express our concern over the July 16, 2026 shooting of a 21-year-old woman near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Aurora, Colorado. While we are relieved that her injuries were not life-threatening, we must ensure that personnel operating at federal immigration detention facilities are adequately screened and trained to prevent incidents like this one,” wrote the lawmakers. “The incident in Aurora, and the broader pattern of shootings involving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel across the country, undermine public trust and threaten community safety. As members of the Colorado Congressional delegation, we are responsible for defending the constitutional rights of our constituents and protecting our communities and our law enforcement. The events in Aurora raise questions about whether current DHS policies and practices keep communities, protesters, and law enforcement safe. We believe a thorough review of the Department’s policies is necessary to ensure that similar incidents do not recur,” continued the lawmakers. Bennet has consistently fought against the Trump administration’s inhumane immigration policies. In July, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 37 of their Senate colleagues in calling for stronger accountability measures for ICE officers. In May 2026, Bennet introduced three bills aimed at reforming the DHS, including ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP): the Keeping Immigrants and Destinations Safe (KIDS) Act; the Training, Responsibility, Uniforms, and Standards for Transparency (TRUST) Act; and the Oversight, Protection, and Enforcement Notification (OPEN) Act. In March 2026, Bennet issued a statement when Trump fired former Secretary Noem, and emphasized that DHS must undergo a complete overhaul, which is only the first step toward DHS reforms. In January 2026, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the Providing Useful Budgets for Localities to Invest in Cops by Substituting Appropriations from Federal Enforcement To Yield Results (PUBLIC SAFETY) Act, legislation to redirect nearly $75 billion in funding passed in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act from ICE and send it instead to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local police officers in communities across the country. In November 2025, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the bicameral Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure DHS allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. In August 2025, he joined the Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety Act to prohibit immigration enforcement officials from wearing masks and to require them to wear visible identification. In February 2025, Bennet joined his Senate colleagues to introduce the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would reinstate DHS’ long-standing policies to prevent ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Secretary Mullin: We write to express our concern over the July 16, 2026 shooting of a 21-year-old woman near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Aurora, Colorado. While we are relieved that her injuries were not life-threatening, we must ensure that personnel operating at federal immigration detentio