As Republicans push for a more robust immigration enforcement state policy, some Democrats are preparing to counter President Donald Trump’s executive orders. This divergent response has grown wider following the start of the White House’s crack down on illegal immigration.

It remains to be seen exactly what Democrats might introduce as legislation to counteract Trump’s policies. Bills calling for tougher enforcement are unlikely to pass, given that Republicans are outnumbered at the state Capitol. Trump has issued orders to end “birthright citizenship,” send soldiers to the border, withhold funds from “sanctuary” jurisdictions, and tasked federal officials to investigate state and local officials who they believe are refusing to comply with the Trump administration’s federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Republicans said they sense a shift in the illegal immigration debate toward approaching the issue more through the lens of public safety.

“Even Gov. (Jared) Polis and (Denver Mayor Mike) Johnston are now recognizing the need to address this issue — finally aligning themselves with Republican leadership that has long championed immigration enforcement,” said Rep. Max Brooks, R-Castle Rock. “Their shift underscores the importance of prioritizing public safety over politics and embracing common-sense solutions.”

Brooks, who has co-authored a bill to repeal a set of laws that prohibits, in specific instances, cooperation with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws, is referring specifically to signals from both Polis and Johnston that they would cooperate with federal immigration officers when it comes to deporting individuals convicted of a crime.

Both politicians have emphasized that this cooperation doesn’t extend to diverting local law enforcement to immigration enforcement work. Johnston has publicly said he would oppose certain actions by the Trump administration, such as conducting raids at schools and churches.

Meanwhile, Democrats, who said they’re “deeply troubled” by Trump’s policies, said they’re working on a response.

“We will be doing our work, too,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, chair of the Judiciary Committee.

Of particular worry to the Democrats is family separation, referring to mixed legal status households, in which children often are American citizens while their parents are unlawfully residing in the U.S.

Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, now a child welfare attorney who immigrated from Haiti to the United States as a teenager, said she’s seen firsthand how immigration policies can separate families and harm American children.

“These children are American citizens, and they have a right to life with their families, to feel safe, and to thrive,” she said. “As a woman and as an immigrant, I am deeply troubled by the harm these policies could cause to families across the nation.”

When talking about the immigrant population, Democrats do not distinguish between legal immigrants and people who illegally crossed the border or overstayed their visas.

Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, said she is “real disappointed, but not surprised” by Trump’s actions, calling his birthright executive order “flatly unconstitutional.”

“Those executive orders are full of harmful mischaracterizations and false narratives,” she said, referring to reports that immigrants are fueling violent crime waves across the country. “Let me remind you, immigrants are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators.”

Meanwhile, Republicans have reintroduced a bill to repeal Colorado’s so-called sanctuary laws.

This year’s bill, sponsored by Brooks, Sen. Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, and Rep. Chris Richardson, R-Elizabeth, would eliminate provisions that prohibit people from being arrested while attending or traveling to courthouse proceedings, prevent probation officers from sharing personal information about individuals with federal immigration authorities, and bar state and local governments from contracting with private immigration detention services.

Brooks called the bill “a critical step” in addressing what he described as the state’s significant challenges due to illegal immigration.

Brooks and Richardson are confident their bill would gain the support of some Democrats, who they believe agree with Polis and Johnston’s position on deporting violent criminals.

“It’s very clear that this is an issue,” said Richardson, adding that the proposal deals more with the logistics of coordination and communication with the federal government. “We can’t ignore it, and we’ve got to do this. We’ve got to provide a safe environment for our citizens.”

Since December 2022, roughly 43,000 immigrants — mainly from South and Central America who crossed the southern border illegally — have come to Denver, straining the city’s finances and putting the spotlight on Colorado. That decision has cost city taxpayers more than $80 million.