U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colorado, has introduced federal legislation that will address “dangerous” sanctuary state policies.
Evans, a 2025 newcomer to the U.S. House, made the Unhandcuffing Police to Locate and Interdict Foreign Transgressors Act a priority by filing it Thursday as his first piece of legislation.
“Bloodthirsty gangs thrive when blue-state sanctuary laws tie cops’ hands,” Evans said on social media. “My UPLIFT Act ‘uncuffs’ local police and restores their power to work with federal officials and keep our communities safe.”
The Uplift Act, also known as H.R. 1680, would amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require that state and local officials and entities work with federal law enforcement and comply with the immigration laws and policies of the United States.
Evans explained that while the bill will apply to all states, it also directly addresses concerns about Colorado’s sanctuary state laws.
“This law will uplift public safety by allowing law enforcement to be able to get dangerous criminals, who are also illegally present in our community, out of our neighborhoods,” he said. “Sanctuary state laws in Colorado currently prevent law enforcement from doing this.”
Three other Republican representatives, all from Colorado, have joined in co-sponsoring the legislation.
“Proud to be an original co-sponsor of the UPLIFT Act,” said U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colorado. “CO-03 will be safer if Colorado cooperates with federal law enforcement — particularly when it comes to dangerous criminals here illegally.”
The bill would also do the following:
• Allow local law enforcement to work with federal counterparts to detain criminal illegal immigrants.
• Create a “path to justice for Coloradans harmed by sanctuary policies” by allowing them to bring legal action against a state or political subdivision of a state that refused to honor an immigration detainer request for an illegal immigrant who later commits a crime.
• Prohibit state and local officials from restricting local law enforcement sharing information about an illegal immigrant “reasonably” suspected of a crime with federal immigration officials.
• Prohibit state and local officials from restricting state and local entities from detaining illegal immigrants in private facilities. This reverses Colorado’s House Bill 23-1100, which Evans said will allow local entities to have “more space for detainees awaiting their immigration court date.”
Under the bill, the secretary of homeland security would compile an annual list of states or entities not complying with the requirements.
Evans addressed potential concerns with the bill.
“To those who would say, ‘Does this trample on states’ rights?’ the answer is no,” he said. “The Constitution clearly delegates to the federal government the authority and responsibility to keep our communities safe.”
