Lisa Calderón: “Our economy could not grow without our immigrant community, so if ‘sanctuary’ means that we’re protecting people who are wrongfully targeted by the overreach of our government, then yes, I’m going to keep Denver as a sanctuary city.”

Stephan “Chairman Seku” Evans: “Colorado has always been a sanctuary city for people who have been here. Because it has a tradition that it’s [the] wild, wild West. I don’t care where you’re from, I want you to come here.”

Jamie Giellis: “We would continue to do what the current administration is doing….As a baseline, what they’ve started in terms of how they address those issues with immigration and ICE [is] something to continue.”

Michael B. Hancock: “We’re going to make sure our immigrants and refugees have an opportunity to thrive in Denver, to care for their families, to call the city home. We’re not going to demonize them, dehumanize them, or disrespect them.”

Kalyn Rose Heffernan: “I commend the city for being a sanctuary city. I think we’ve got to do more to protect those immigrants from ICE. I know a handful of people just this week that got detained by ICE….If we’re going to be a sanctuary city, we’ve got to also do more to support them.”

Penfield Tate III: “I’m not going to let ICE agents roam around and start snatching people off the street. I don’t think it’s appropriate for people to be picked up because of their immigration status….I wouldn’t let the [ICE] agents roam through city buildings or public spaces or stop people randomly and ask for ID.”

Jay Bouchard
Jay Bouchard
Jay Bouchard is a Denver-based writer and a former editor on 5280's digital team.
Natasha Gardner
Natasha Gardner
Natasha Gardner is a Denver-based writer and the former Articles Editor for 5280.