Denver Mayor Expands Local Protections Against ICE

Executive order bans ICE agents from city property without judicial warrant

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signed an executive order to expand local protections against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a press conference on Thursday, February 26. The four-page order bans ICE agents from City of Denver property unless they have a judicial warrant and court order, and designates "protected spaces" such as public schools, libraries, and hospitals where ICE agents are prohibited from entering without proper legal authorization.

Why it matters

The executive order is meant to reassure Denver residents who have expressed concerns about potential ICE enforcement actions in the city, following a violent federal immigration operation in Minneapolis earlier this year. The policy aims to limit ICE's ability to operate on city property and establishes guidelines for local law enforcement to respond to any ICE presence.

The details

Executive Order 152 requires the Denver Police and Sheriff's departments to "try to maintain the peace and de-escalate" any situations involving ICE agents, and to "immediately render aid to anyone injured" during immigration enforcement actions. The order also prohibits ICE agents from stopping, detaining, questioning or searching anyone "based on location, occupation, language, accent, race or ethnicity" in order to prevent racial profiling.

  • Mayor Johnston signed the executive order on February 26, 2026.
  • The Denver City Council is expected to vote on a bill to ban ICE agents from wearing masks while operating in the city on March 2, 2026.

The players

Mike Johnston

The Mayor of Denver who signed the executive order expanding local protections against ICE.

Ron Thomas

The Denver Police Chief who discussed how local law enforcement will respond to any ICE presence in the city.

Amanda Sandoval

The Denver City Council President who said the city, school district, and mayor's office want to create "an ecosystem of protections" from ICE.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My first job is to run this city, but in today's America, that means answering questions from our residents about what happens if ICE troops descend on our community. Our goal is not to provoke, but to protect.”

— Mike Johnston, Mayor of Denver (westword.com)

“No ICE officer gets to stand in our way of saving someone's life. If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from that situation.”

— Mike Johnston, Mayor of Denver (westword.com)

“We will lead with de-escalation. That is our primary concern, to maintain the peace.”

— Ron Thomas, Denver Police Chief (westword.com)

What’s next

The Denver City Council is expected to vote on a bill to ban ICE agents from wearing masks while operating in the city on March 2, 2026.

The takeaway

This executive order demonstrates Denver's commitment to protecting its immigrant residents and limiting the ability of federal immigration enforcement to operate within city limits, even in the face of potential legal challenges from the federal government.