Colorado Requires Attorneys to Certify Limits on Cooperation With Federal Immigration Enforcement

(Oldglorychronicle.com) – Colorado Democrats are forcing every private attorney in the state to swear under penalty of perjury they won’t assist federal agents in enforcing immigration laws—or lose access to court filings entirely.

Story Highlights

Private lawyers must certify non-cooperation with ICE on immigration enforcement to use Colorado’s Courts E-Filing system, effective March 30, 2026.
Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 25-276 in 2025, extending sanctuary policies to the judiciary and blocking state resources from aiding federal law.
Refusal means no e-filing, no case files, no court representation—government attorneys exempted.
Critics decry it as compelled speech, obstruction of justice, and a direct attack on federal supremacy amid Trump’s border security push.
Affects all 20,000+ private attorneys, disrupting legal practice and fueling state-federal clashes.

Policy Forces Perjury Oath on All Private Attorneys

Starting March 30, 2026, every private attorney in Colorado logging into the Courts E-Filing system must certify under penalty of perjury they will not use or share non-public court data to assist federal immigration enforcement under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1325 or 1326, unless legally required. Senate Bill 25-276, signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis on May 23, 2025, mandates this restriction. The policy targets civil immigration laws, shielding illegal entrants and reentrants from ICE scrutiny through state records. Government attorneys receive full exemption, creating unequal access to essential court tools. This move exemplifies sanctuary overreach, prioritizing illegal immigrants over federal authority and American taxpayers funding border security.

Judicial Branch Admits Intent to Block Federal Enforcement

The Colorado Judicial Branch openly states the legislation prevents state resources from supporting federal civil immigration enforcement. Their website confirms the judiciary must comply despite public frustration. Critics highlight how this strong-arms lawyers into an anti-enforcement pledge irrelevant to most practices like divorce or personal injury cases. The certification blocks e-filing, case reviews, and client representation without the oath. In Trump’s second term, this defiance undermines national efforts to secure borders and deport criminal illegals, eroding rule of law conservatives demand.

Backlash Builds Over Compelled Speech and Court Access Barriers

ZeroHedge reported on April 3, 2026, sparking outrage labeling the policy obstruction of justice and compelled speech under the First Amendment. Lawyers face professional paralysis, risking deadlines if they refuse. A recent federal judge dismissed a Trump administration suit against similar Colorado rules, affirming states need not assist ICE. This precedent emboldens sanctuary states, questioning federal supremacy. Private attorneys, not immigration specialists, bear the burden while state lawyers skate free, exposing hypocrisy in Democratic governance.

Broader Impacts Threaten Legal Practice and National Security

Over 20,000 private attorneys statewide confront disrupted workflows, potential delays, and lost cases. Long-term, the policy chills federal-state cooperation, sets precedents for other blue states, and invites lawsuits on constitutional grounds. It bolsters immigrant trust in courts at the expense of American sovereignty, heightening tensions as Trump’s DOJ eyes responses. Economic hits to legal efficiency compound frustrations with illegal immigration’s costs—from crime to welfare burdens. Conservatives see this as government overreach shielding lawbreakers, demanding federal intervention to restore order.

This sanctuary expansion in Colorado’s judiciary directly contradicts promises of secure borders and limited government. As MAGA voices question foreign entanglements, domestic threats like this demand priority—ending state sabotage of immigration enforcement now strengthens families, communities, and the Constitution against radical agendas.