Denver Mayor and ICE in Tense Standoff

In a striking defiance of President Trump's immigration crackdown, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from city property and taken measures to guard protesters. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers are pushing for legislation to bar illegal immigrants from service in law enforcement, and tensions continue to escalate across the nation.

Background and Context

Mayor Johnston's order, a clear departure from his usually measured stance, risks drawing attention to Greater Denver, which has already been a focus of President Trump's campaign rhetoric. This development comes alongside GOP proposals, such as the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act, aimed at preventing individuals in the U.S. illegally from possessing firearms or ammunition in law enforcement roles.

Key Developments

Mayor Johnston has taken a step further by ordering city authorities to detain any ICE agents who are considered to have used excessive force against residents in Denver. His proactive approach follows weeks after Philadelphia's top prosecutor likened ICE agents to Adolf Hitler's Geheime Staatspolizei.

No ICE officer gets to stand in our way of saving someone's life. To protect Denver, if we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation, Johnston stated.

Meanwhile, federal law enforcement entities continue their crackdown on anti-ICE protesters. The Department of Justice recently unsealed an indictment charging 30 more people in relation to the attack on Cities Church in Minnesota. This brings the total number of people charged to 39, including ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon.

Implications and Reactions

The political climate surrounding immigration and ICE is fraught with escalating tension. In New Jersey, lawmakers have drafted the provocatively named F---ICE Act that would allow civil action to be taken against immigration enforcement agents. This move has drawn strong criticism from the Department of Homeland Security and others.

On a federal level, criticism is being directed at judges who continue to order the release of some of the 650 illegal immigrants arrested by ICE in Operation Country Roads. In one controversial case, Judge Joseph Goodwin of the Southern District of West Virginia lashed out at ICE agents' masks and warrant-free arrests.

Current Status

As the situation continues to unfold, both sides remain resolute. Denver's mayor maintains his commitment to protecting Denver residents from excessive use of force by federal agents, while GOP lawmakers and federal law enforcement entities continue their crackdown on anti-ICE protests and illegal immigration.

In the midst of these developments, the debate over immigration and law enforcement's role continues to be a significant point of contention in American politics, with no clear resolution in sight.