A detective with the Denver Police Department testified in front of members of Congress Thursday, slamming how Denver handles immigration, in relation to crime.
Nick Rogers said Denver's newly adopted immigration policy, which - among other things - prevents officers from working with the feds on immigration enforcement, interferes with drug prosecution.
"I truly believe that if we don’t come up with a way to enforce not only our laws, but the federal laws, and have the people here illegally selling these drugs deported, we’re never going to get a hold of that side of the problem," Rogers told the House Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee.
Rogers, the president of the Denver Police Protective Association, used to work closely with ICE agents, he said, adding they'd come to the police station and sit in his office. That's not the case now.
"It’s made it more difficult for us on the streets because we have information they don’t. They have information we don’t," he said. "They would take charge and have them deported."
The immigration ordnance does not prohibit officers from working with a federal agent on a criminal investigation. It does prohibit Denver city employees from contacting them for civil matters, like someone's immigration status. Mayor Hancock has said that if federal agents want information from the city, they can get a warrant.
Rogers says that he does not know of an officer being disciplined for violating the ordinance, but he believes no one has tested the limits.
"My membership’s – they’re not happy. They feel that they’re being handcuffed," he said.
Republican Congressman Ken Buck, who represents Northern Colorado and Castle Rock, sits on the subcommittee and invited Rogers to speak.
Watch today's entire testimony here.
