Immigration Tip Line
The Immigration Tip Line allows citizens to report illegal alien transportation or other illegal alien activities occurring within Douglas County, Colorado. If an illegal alien transportation is in progress or a crime involving an illegal alien is occurring now, we ask that you call our dispatch center at 303-660-7500.
A deputy will be dispatched to the location of the illegal activity based upon the information given. If the activity is in progress, be prepared to describe the circumstances, including:
- Vehicle license plate number;
- Vehicle description, including make, model, color, and other vehicle identifiers like stickers or after-market vehicle accessories;
- Direction of travel;
- If a vehicle is not involved, describe the location where the illegal alien activity or crime is occurring;
- The circumstances involving the illegal alien transportation or criminal activity;
- Description of the suspects, including race, sex, height, weight, hair and eye color, age, clothing descriptions, any physical oddities, and direction of travel;
- Your personal identifying information (to be used if additional information is needed).
If the activity is not in progress, please call our Tip Line at 303-663-7265. Describe the illegal alien activity or criminal activity that you have witnessed and leave your contact information so that we may follow up with you later.
The mere presence of an illegal alien in Colorado – absent any other crime – does not violate state law. However, it is a violation of federal law. Local law enforcement may only take action against an illegal alien when a state or local law is being or has been violated (note that smuggling of humans is a felony in Colorado). If no Colorado law is being violated, we will pass any information left on our tip line along to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Service so that they can follow up on the lead.
Immigration Issues in Colorado
The enforcement of laws pertaining to illegal immigration into the United States is the responsibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often referred to as ICE. ICE is an agency of the Department of Homeland Security. For news releases on ICE operations and responsibilities, click here.
The Colorado legislature has placed certain requirements on local law enforcement to track illegal immigration issues within the State of Colorado. Senate Bill 06-90 is an example of one of these laws. It requires that county sheriffs and local police agencies notify federal authorities of enforcement-related contacts or detentions of suspected illegal aliens. Once such a report is made, local law enforcement waits for ICE agents to respond and decide what action will be taken with the suspected illegal alien. The sheriff's office is often asked to place an ICE detainer on the suspected illegal alien if there are criminal charges pending.
In 2006, the State legislature created referendum K, which considered filing a law suit against the U.S. Attorney General because of the cost of illegal immigration on Colorado taxpayers and the perceived lack of enforcement of federal immigration laws. The legislature also created a unit within the Colroado State Patrol to investigate human smuggling.