Bill would prevent arrests from happening at schools, hospitals, and places of worship
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet along with 19 Senate colleagues introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act to limit immigration arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
“We all want criminals off our streets and a more secure border,” Hickenlooper said. “Targeting kids and families who haven’t committed a crime – especially at their schools, hospitals, or places of worship – doesn’t get us any closer to fixing our broken immigration system.”
“The Trump Administration’s efforts to allow ICE to take enforcement action in protected areas are deeply concerning and go against long-standing precedent,” said Bennet. “Every Coloradan should feel safe to go to school, church, and the doctor without fear of arrest.”
On January 21, 2025, the Trump administration rescinded the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) existing policy that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from entering certain locations, such as, schools, hospitals, food pantries, churches, domestic violence shelters, to conduct arrests.
Last Wednesday, there were reports that ICE officials blocked school buses from picking up children and prevented families from leaving their homes in Metro Denver.
The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would reinstate DHS’s previous policy preventing arrests in sensitive locations and expand the protected locations to include courthouses and additional health care, educational, and religious facilities.
The legislation includes exceptions for exigent circumstances and requires ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel receive training on carrying out enforcement activities. It also requires ICE and CBP to submit an annual report to Congress on their enforcement actions.
Full text of bill is available HERE.
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