DENVER, CO – In late March, a federal judge reportedly granted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought forth by the Justice Department challenging a number of immigration “sanctuary laws” passed in Colorado and the state’s most populous city, Denver.
As previously reported in Law Enforcement Today, the Justice Department has been embroiled in a legal back-and-forth with numerous cities and states regarding what the current administration has deemed as “sanctuary” jurisdictions, claiming said laws and adopted policies run afoul of the Supremacy Clause.
Back in August of 2025, officials in Colorado and the city of Denver were among the many to receive correspondence from Attorney General Pam Bondi warning that continued application of what the administration deems sanctuary laws and policies would result in the matters being taken to court.
On March 31st, U.S. District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher granted a motion to dismiss the lawsuits brought forth by the Justice Department against the state of Colorado and the city of Denver, with the judge explaining in his ruling that Supreme Court precedent allows for states to not be compelled to use their “resources” to advance federal enforcement agendas.
“Colorado and Denver have the right to refuse to expend their resources to implement a federal regulatory program,” Judge Gallagher concluded in his ruling.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston issued a statement in the wake of the favorable ruling, saying, “Today's ruling makes clear that we cannot be required to use local resources to enforce federal policies.”
The Justice Department has yet to issue a public statement on the issued ruling. As for prior attempts from the Justice Department to address sanctuary jurisdictions, a similar lawsuit against Chicago’s laws and policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement operations was also struck down in court back in July of 2025 via a granted motion to dismiss.
As previously reported in Law Enforcement Today, the Justice Department has been embroiled in a legal back-and-forth with numerous cities and states regarding what the current administration has deemed as “sanctuary” jurisdictions, claiming said laws and adopted policies run afoul of the Supremacy Clause.
Back in August of 2025, officials in Colorado and the city of Denver were among the many to receive correspondence from Attorney General Pam Bondi warning that continued application of what the administration deems sanctuary laws and policies would result in the matters being taken to court.
On March 31st, U.S. District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher granted a motion to dismiss the lawsuits brought forth by the Justice Department against the state of Colorado and the city of Denver, with the judge explaining in his ruling that Supreme Court precedent allows for states to not be compelled to use their “resources” to advance federal enforcement agendas.
“Colorado and Denver have the right to refuse to expend their resources to implement a federal regulatory program,” Judge Gallagher concluded in his ruling.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston issued a statement in the wake of the favorable ruling, saying, “Today's ruling makes clear that we cannot be required to use local resources to enforce federal policies.”
The Justice Department has yet to issue a public statement on the issued ruling. As for prior attempts from the Justice Department to address sanctuary jurisdictions, a similar lawsuit against Chicago’s laws and policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement operations was also struck down in court back in July of 2025 via a granted motion to dismiss.
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