Lead: On Feb. 26, 2026, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signed an executive order aimed at limiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on city-owned property and directing local police to protect peaceful protesters at immigration operations. The measure forbids federal agents from using city facilities for enforcement and requires Denver officers to intervene if they witness life‑threatening conduct. The order was framed as a response to recent federal immigration operations elsewhere and follows heightened national debate over enforcement tactics. City officials acknowledge the order cannot legally bar federal agents from entering Denver, but they say it sets firm local policy and priorities.
Key Takeaways
- Mayor Mike Johnston issued the executive order on Feb. 26, 2026, forbidding ICE use of Denver municipal property and ordering police to safeguard demonstrators.
- The order instructs Denver police to intervene if they witness life‑threatening abuses during federal immigration actions, a reference to two Americans killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this winter.
- Denver will pursue criminal investigations of complaints against immigration authorities, despite limited ability to compel federal cooperation.
- Department of Homeland Security did not provide an immediate response to the mayor’s order when first reported.
- Legal experts and officials note that Colorado and Denver lack statutory authority to prevent federal immigration operations within their jurisdictions.
- The move represents a visibly more confrontational stance by Johnston compared with his earlier, more measured testimony before Congress about sanctuary policies.
- The order is likely to be partly symbolic but could increase scrutiny of federal operations in the Denver area and trigger legal and political pushback.
Background
Denver’s action sits against a national backdrop of heightened tensions over immigration enforcement and local-federal coordination. In recent months, high-profile federal operations have prompted public outcry and questions about the use of force, most notably an operation in Minneapolis this winter in which two Americans were fatally shot by federal agents. Sanctuary-style policies and state-level limitations on local cooperation with ICE already shape how many cities engage with federal immigration authorities.
Mayor Johnston, a Democrat who has portrayed Denver as a welcoming city, previously emphasized cooperation with federal officers while testifying before a Republican-led congressional hearing. That earlier stance reflected Denver’s history of thousands of cooperative interactions with immigration authorities, even as local leaders balance community trust and public-safety obligations. Still, proponents of stronger local checks on federal enforcement have urged bolder local actions in response to perceived abuses.
Main Event
On Feb. 26, 2026, Johnston signed an executive order that explicitly bars ICE from using city property for enforcement activity and requires Denver police to protect peaceful protesters present at immigration operations. The order directs municipal resources toward monitoring and, when necessary, intervening if federal agents engage in conduct that threatens life. City officials framed the directive as clarifying Denver’s priorities and providing explicit guidance to officers and residents about how the city will respond.
The order also commits Denver to investigate and, where appropriate, bring criminal complaints against immigration agents accused of misconduct under local law. Officials acknowledged that federal authorities may decline to cooperate with such probes, and prosecutors have limited jurisdiction over federal agents performing federal duties. The administration said the investigative provision is intended to document alleged abuses and hold actors accountable at the city level when possible.
Federal officials did not immediately issue a statement responding to the order. Legal analysts caution that while the order changes municipal policy, it cannot legally block federal agents from carrying out immigration enforcement in Denver, and federal agents retain statutory authority to operate within the city. Nonetheless, the mayor’s office described the directive as an effort to protect residents’ rights and public safety during immigration enforcement actions.
Analysis & Implications
Politically, the executive order marks a clear shift in tone for Mayor Johnston, moving from his earlier conciliatory posture to a more confrontational local posture. That change may be driven by local political pressures, recent national events, and concerns about civil‑liberties fallout from federal tactics. The decision risks drawing national attention to Greater Denver and could escalate confrontations between municipal authorities and federal agents.
Legally, the order tests the boundary between municipal policy and federal supremacy. Cities can set internal rules about use of municipal property and how local officers engage with federal agents, but they cannot preclude federal law enforcement from operating under federal authority. The measure is therefore likely to function primarily as a political statement and a tool for local documentation and potential prosecution of misconduct under city or state criminal statutes.
Operationally, the directive could alter how Denver police position themselves at immigration actions, prioritizing protection of protesters and accelerated reporting of alleged abuses. That may increase the number of local investigations and public records that document federal operations, which could influence public discourse and fuel litigation. Conversely, it may also prompt federal pushback, funding or resource changes, or litigation challenging the order’s scope.
Comparison & Data
| City/State | Executive Order Barring ICE on City Property | Power to Block Federal Operations | Recent Notable Federal Enforcement Incident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | Yes (Feb. 26, 2026) | No | — |
| Minneapolis, MN | No (local policies limit cooperation) | No | Two Americans fatally shot by federal agents this winter |
| Typical ‘sanctuary’ cities | Varies (policy limits cooperation) | No | Varied |
The table summarizes the practical limits of local actions: municipal orders can restrict use of city property and set police priorities, but they do not confer authority to bar federal enforcement. Denver’s order is notable for its explicit protection directive and for pledging local criminal probes, which may increase documentation of federal activities even if it cannot stop them.
Reactions & Quotes
Mayor Johnston framed the order as a clarification for residents about city priorities:
“One of the top questions I get is, What is going to happen if ICE comes to Denver? We want to make clear to residents where we stand.”
Mayor Mike Johnston / Denver Mayor’s Office
Johnston’s remarks echoed his broader portrayal of Denver as a welcoming community while signaling a firmer posture than in prior testimony:
“We are a welcoming city,”
Mayor Mike Johnston (earlier congressional testimony)
The national campaign rhetoric that has shadowed recent local decisions was cited as context by observers, including a campaign remark by a national figure:
“a ‘bloody story’ there”
President Donald J. Trump (campaign remark referenced by commentators)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the order will deter ICE from conducting operations in Denver is unclear and remains unconfirmed; federal law currently permits operations regardless of local orders.
- It is unconfirmed whether the Department of Homeland Security will alter tactics or respond legally to Denver’s order; no formal DHS statement was available at the time of reporting.
- Whether local criminal investigations will lead to indictments of federal agents is unconfirmed and depends on evidence, jurisdictional questions, and potential federal resistance.
Bottom Line
Mayor Johnston’s Feb. 26, 2026 executive order is a deliberately forceful municipal statement intended to protect residents and document federal conduct during immigration enforcement. While the order reinforces Denver’s policy priorities and could increase local scrutiny of federal operations, it is constrained by the limits of municipal authority under federal law. The practical effects will depend on how Denver police implement the directive, whether local prosecutors pursue complaints, and how federal agencies respond in practice and, possibly, in the courts.
For residents and observers, the order signals where Denver stands politically and administratively on immigration enforcement. Expect legal challenges, increased public records about federal operations, and intensified national attention to play out over the coming months as the limits and consequences of municipal defiance are tested.
Sources
- The New York Times — News report on Denver executive order (major national news organization).
- Denver.gov — Official city government website (official municipal source).
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (federal agency).