DENVER, Colo. (KDVR) — Gov. Jared Polis said in his State of the State address that undocumented criminals in Colorado should be deported.

After his speech, FOX31 sat with the governor and asked how far Colorado would go to work with federal immigration agencies. The governor said local law enforcement agencies and state law enforcement agencies already work with ICE on a number of criminal investigations.

However, in 2024, a lawsuit determined Colorado law prevents deputies or officers from arresting or detaining anyone for federal civil immigration purposes, or for delaying release to help facilitate an ICE pickup. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in 2024 after it was decided in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, and against the Teller County Sheriff’s Office.

ICE agents were alongside Aurora police recently when they arrested undocumented migrants at an apartment complex where gangs were said to be a problem. The governor acknowledged the presence and problems with undocumented criminals.

“Yeah. There’s been gang problems in Denver and Aurora for decades. We have gangs like the Bloods and Crips. Mexican gangs and now the risk of Venezuelan gangs,” Polis said.

FOX31 asked Polis if he would support an increased use of local and state law enforcement agencies for immigration-related cases.

“We make no distinction in apprehending criminals. If they are undocumented, ultimately the federal government would detain and deport that person,” Polis said.

FOX31 also asked the governor if he was worried about the threats the Trump Administration has made about starting “Operation Aurora” in Colorado.

“We don’t know what Operation Aurora is or would be. But the general principles I’ve laid out are that we appreciate and welcome more help from the federal government to go after criminals,” Polis said.

Operation Aurora was announced by President-elect Trump at a rally held in October in Aurora. The plan would remove migrants who entered the country illegally and may be involved in gangs through invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to “target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil.”

“We will send elite squads of ICE, Border Patrol and federal law enforcement officers to hunt down, arrest and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country,” Trump said at the October rally.

The governor also said he is hoping the incoming Trump administration and lawmakers create pathways for citizenship for Dreamers and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, which was designed to prevent deportation of foreign children brought into the country not of their own will, but illegally.

Trump has previously opposed DACA and tried to end the program during his first term in office. But in December he said that he thinks the so-called “Dreamers” should be allowed to stay. On “Meet the Press,” Trump said many DACA recipients become successful and have a positive economic impact.