Denver Mayor Mike Johnston ignited a firestorm of debate with a bold executive order, directly challenging federal authority. The directive instructs city officials to detain Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents believed to have used excessive force against civilians within city limits.
The announcement reverberates weeks after Philadelphia’s District Attorney made controversial headlines, drawing a stark comparison between ICE agents and the Gestapo. While that prosecutor’s threats remain largely unrealized, Johnston’s order immediately establishes a clear line in the sand.
“To protect Denver, our first responders will always provide life-saving aid, regardless of who caused the injury,” Johnston declared, standing before the city’s government plaza. He emphasized that no federal agent should impede the provision of emergency care, and vowed intervention against any perceived abuse of power.
Johnston insisted that ICE officers must be held to the same standards as local law enforcement. He asserted Denver’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting crimes within its borders, irrespective of federal actions or oversight.
The order itself was crafted by City Attorney Michiko “Miko” Brown, a detail Johnston highlighted with poignant significance. Brown’s family history includes ancestors unjustly incarcerated during World War II, victims of President Roosevelt’s executive order authorizing the internment of Japanese Americans.
Johnston deliberately referenced the courthouse behind him, named in honor of former Colorado Governor Ralph Carr. Carr, a Republican, courageously opposed the internment of Japanese, German, and Italian Americans during the same period, a stark contrast to the prevailing sentiment among many Western governors.
Beyond excessive force, Johnston addressed concerns about potential unlawful detentions. He firmly stated his administration would not tolerate “abductions” of residents, assuring citizens they would not fear for their safety while simply running errands.
He framed Denver as a city defined by resilience and mutual support, a place where communities rally together in times of crisis. Johnston invoked the spirit of the West, proclaiming “All are welcome. All are valued. All are protected.”
The situation in Philadelphia continues to escalate, with District Attorney Larry Krasner publicly denouncing ICE as “a small bunch of wannabe Nazis” and vowing to pursue agents with the same fervor historically applied to Nazi hunters.
Krasner’s inflammatory rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism, prompting a formal request from a member of the House Intelligence Committee for an investigation by the Attorney General. The request cites a federal statute carrying potential felony charges for threats against federal officers.
The unfolding events in both Denver and Philadelphia signal a growing tension between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement, raising complex questions about jurisdiction, accountability, and the limits of local power.
