West
Blue state sanctuary laws enabled illegal 'abolish ICE' activist to evade capture, says local DA
Colorado District Attorney George Brauchler is speaking out against activist judges and sanctuary policies in his state that he says enabled abolish ICE activist and illegal immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra to evade capture for over a decade, “making a mockery of the rule of law.”
Colorado law prohibits local and state law enforcement from working with federal immigration authorities to remove illegals.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Brauchler, who is the district attorney for Colorado’s 23rd District, said the policies being pushed by Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis and the Democratic-controlled legislature have made it so that the state has “embraced illegal immigrants over the laws of the country.”
He said the policies have stunted local and state law enforcement’s ability to keep dangerous illegal criminals off the streets.
BLUE STATE LEADER SOUNDS ALARM ABOUT ‘PERFECT STORM’ OF DEM IMMIGRATION POLICIES DECIMATING PUBLIC SAFETY
Colorado District Attorney George Brauchler is speaking out against activist judges and sanctuary policies in his state that he says enabled abolish ICE activist and illegal immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra to evade capture for over a decade, “making a mockery of the rule of law.” (Getty Images)
“Local law enforcement all say the ‘right’ thing publicly, and that is, ‘Hey, we’re not arms of the federal government. We don’t work for ICE. That’s not why we were hired.’ But they also say behind the scenes, ‘Dang, we have lost the ability to rid this community of the criminal element when we create these kinds of barriers with ICE.’”
In the case of Vizguerra, who just won a temporary ruling by a federal judge in Colorado guaranteeing ICE cannot deport her while her case is ongoing, Brauchler said that far-left sentiments in the state allowed U.S. immigration laws to be openly flouted.
“Let’s be honest man, Colorado has shifted so far to the pro-illegal immigrant side of things, that it’s created a very permissive environment where you can be here for a long time, be illegal, be even contacted by local law enforcement, and remain free out on the streets,” he said. “So, it’s not a shock to me that there’s a person that is like this in the system.”
He noted that he is sympathetic to Vizguerra having to leave after establishing a life and family in Colorado, but said, “We are either going to be a nation and a state that is governed by laws that we hold each other accountable for, or we’re going to be guided by emotion and whatever the politics of the day are.”
HOMAN BLASTS BLUE STATE AS REPORT SHOWS IT RELEASING ILLEGALS CHARGED WITH ‘HORRIFIC’ CRIMES ON LOW BAILS
Jeanette Vizguerra, who is in the U.S. illegally took sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Denver, holds her son Santiago on May 12, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra was arrested and detained by immigration authorities this month. (Getty Images)
“That doesn’t seem to me to be the America that was ever intended and not the one I grew up in,” he went on. “We have to admit that the first step for any person who claims to want to be an American cannot be to violate America’s laws. And she fits that bill.”
In addition to the Colorado judge’s ruling, Brauchler also questioned a growing string of other rulings by federal judges inhibiting the Trump administration’s immigration actions across the country.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE
He said the decision of “one single district court judge in a handpicked venue by the people that think they’re going to get the outcome that they want, to issue a nationwide ban that freezes the federal government from border to border, coast to coast, seems to me to be abuse of judicial discretion.”
He pointed to cases such as D.C. Circuit Court Judge James Boasberg, who recently issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport a group of suspected immigrant gang members. By issuing a temporary restraining order rather than a permanent or temporary injunction, Brauchler said that activist judges guarantee their rulings cannot be appealed, effectively freezing the administration from seeking a review by an appellate court.
TRUMP CALLS FOR JUDGE IN DEPORTATION LEGAL BATTLE TO BE IMPEACHED
Brauchler pointed to cases such as D.C. Circuit Court Judge James Boasberg (pictured above), who recently issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport a group of suspected immigrant gang members. (Getty)
“What judges should do at the federal level is, if they think that something should be enjoined, they should limit that enjoinder to their own jurisdiction and let the rest of this play out across the country,” he said.
Turning back to Colorado, Brauchler emphasized that the “bottom line” is “if we don’t like our immigration laws, well by God change them, Congress, and fix them. … But the answer to ‘I disagree with our federal immigration laws’ cannot ever be — for a people that claim to adhere to the rule of law — it cannot ever be, ‘Well, let’s just ignore them or find a way to thwart them by creating barriers between local law enforcement and the feds.’”
“Our extreme left-wing progressive legislature, dominated by the Democrat Party out here, has a bill they’re waiting to drop that would prohibit every attorney in the criminal justice system, from the judge to the prosecutor, to the defense attorney, to interns in from law school, in my office — no joke — from sharing any information ever about any individual with ICE.”
“That’s where Colorado’s going,” he said. “They’re not making us safer. They’re not making us better. They’re not making us more just. And they’re making a mockery of the rule of law.”
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Denver, CO
Denver welcomes national Democrats for 2028 convention site visit, starting with a trip on the A-Line
Denver will welcome representatives from the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday for a three-day show-and-tell highlighting the city as Mayor Mike Johnston tries to woo the party’s leaders into hosting their 2028 convention in the West.
If he’s successful, it will mean 50,000 people will pour into Denver for four days in August of that year.
“It’s kind of like four Super Bowls in a row,” Johnston said in an interview with Denver Post journalists in advance of the delegation’s site visit.
Throughout the visit, much of which could happen during a spring snowstorm, Denver city leaders will attempt to demonstrate the city’s logistical, financial and merriment potential.
Denver is the only one of five finalist cities that is located west of the Mississippi River. The other options are Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago. DNC leaders, including chair Ken Martin, have already visited Atlanta and Philadelphia.
The competition between the rival cities has already begun.
Atlanta’s mayor recently called out most of the other bidding cities, saying, “Boston is history. Philadelphia is played out. Denver is nostalgia. Atlanta is now,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Johnston responded to that, saying: “Of all the disses, I thought ours was actually the best.” It refers to the city’s much-lauded hosting of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, where then-Sen. Barack Obama accepted his party’s nomination on his way to becoming the nation’s first Black president.
Denver’s plan is to focus on what the city has to offer instead of attacking the others, Johnston added. He did take a few jabs throughout the conversation, though.
“(Denver) is cool in the summertime and it’s not 110 degrees in August, like it is in some other places that I won’t name,” he said.
Talking about some of the criteria the DNC will consider in the decision, he said: “It’s very much like, you either have a 20,000-person arena or you don’t. Atlanta does not.”
The visit plan
During the site visit, Johnston and other city leaders will try to infuse “little moments of joy” while also showing off the city’s infrastructure. That will include visits to some of the city’s best restaurants and bars, along with a tour of Rockmount Ranch Wear in Lower Downtown.
If Denver wins the bid, the city plans to host excursions for the delegates in two years. While they’re in the city, visitors are likely to have downtime to explore the region. For their entertainment, Denver will offer things like craft beer tours, history courses on neighborhoods like Five Points and a trip to the city’s mountain parks, Johnston said.
Different bars would be dedicated to delegates from each state — including miniature versions of Denver’s big blue bear in front of each, with a painted flag from their state.
This week’s site visit won’t all be about bid leaders’ ideas for fun, though.
Johnston’s team will also have to show that hosting the convention in Denver will make things easier on the event planners.
After the representatives land at Denver International Airport, Denver officials will show them how to use the A-Line train to travel into the heart of the city — an option that didn’t exist in 2008. Once there, they will lead them on a short walk to some of the nearby hotels.
Johnston said that when he’s spoken to other delegates about past conventions, their biggest complaints have been mostly logistical, such as long commutes between venues. Ball Arena’s easy proximity to downtown is a strong suit of the bid.
Beyond logistical concerns, Denver’s bid team will talk about the city’s hotel offerings, space available for the convention, security options and parking spots. The city’s recent expansion of the Colorado Convention Center is also a major selling point, he said.
Another important focus will be the city’s fundraising capabilities, though officials haven’t cited a specific dollar figure they’re aiming for or disclosed their progress in securing commitments.
“I actually feel very confident about our path. … We are ahead of our projection for what we can raise,” Johnston said.
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Seattle, WA
Ritchie's homecoming spoiled with 5-run 6th inning
San Diego, CA
San Francisco snaps its six-game skid by subduing San Diego
There was an extra buzz around Oracle Park on Monday night, as the long-anticipated 2026 arrival of Bryce Eldridge was finally happening. Giants fans gathered to see if the 21-year-old, power-hitting prospect could live up to the massive expectations that have been placed on him. Instead, some veterans took center stage, as San Francisco snapped a six-game losing streak with a 3-2 home win over San Diego.
Trevor McDonald was outstanding for the Giants, who improved to 14-21. The righthander, who was pressed to duty on Monday night, pitched a gem, hurling seven innings, allowing one earned run, while striking out eight San Diego hitters. With that performance, the call-up gained his first MLB win of the year, and just the second victory of his young career.
While the 25-year-old was dealing on the mound, a veteran hitter was delivering at the dish. Much-maligned first baseman Rafael Devers – he, with the big contract and the minuscule numbers – seemingly awoke from his slumber. The slugger went 1 for 2 with a walk and two RBI.
Casey Schmitt originally kicked off the Giants’ scoring with a first-inning solo shot, his fifth homer in 2026. Prior to Schmitt’s blast, the Giants had gone homerless in their last 223 plate appearances.
Eldridge a non-factor in first start
Bryce Eldridge started at designated hitter and batted seventh in his initial MLB game of 2026. However, fans will have to wait on the fireworks; the lefthanded hitter went 0 for 2 with a walk in Monday’s match-up.
On deck tomorrow: The Giants will send righthander Logan Webb (2-3, 4.30 ERA) to the hill, while the Padres will counter with RHP Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.40 ERA) on Tuesday. First pitch at Oracle Park is scheduled for 6:45 PM Pacific Time.
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