Denver Councilwoman Encourages Reporting of ICE Activity Amid Immigration Debate

Fox News' Lawrence Jones reports on the Trump administration's efforts to secure the southern border and address illegal immigration.

Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore of Denver, Colorado, has encouraged residents to report ICE activities to her network of "more than 600 volunteers" available 24/7.

Before President Donald Trump's inauguration, many Democratic leaders throughout the U.S. vowed to obstruct his deportation efforts.

A video that went viral, showing alleged Venezuelan gang members carrying weapons in an Aurora apartment complex, brought illegal immigration in Denver into the national spotlight. Trump promised an "Operation Aurora" at the federal level during a campaign rally in Colorado last October, aimed at quickly removing these gangs.

However, shortly after taking office, Gilmore utilized various social media platforms to advocate for residents to report ICE actions.

"This is a challenging and heartbreaking time for our community. If you see activity by ICE, stay safe and know you have every right to report it," she stated. "More than 600 volunteers with the Colorado Rapid Response Network take calls in English and Spanish 24/7."

In her posts, Gilmore provided instructions in both English and Spanish: "See a raid? Make sure you stay safe, and if you can: Take a photo or video of the activity. Record the time, date, and location. Note the government agencies involved, their vehicles, uniforms, and actions."

This is part of a broader outreach by Gilmore, offering resources to illegal residents, including rights information, legal aid, jobs, and training.

However, not all residents of Colorado support the tolerance for illegal immigration. Republicans specifically have criticized Democratic leaders, especially after Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declared intentions to position police to obstruct ICE deportations. Reports highlight that the city has allocated over $356 million in taxpayer funds for migrant services.

Councilman Roger Hudson, from a small town south of Denver, expressed his discontent, stating, "there's nothing kind, there's nothing hopeful" in the actions of the Democrats in the city.

Hudson noted that since 2022, Denver has welcomed over 45,000 migrants, which he claims has diverted funding from essential city services like public schools and parks.

"Now they're not mowing the grass in parks, the fountains are down, rec centers are closed, and the homeless problem is completely out of control," he remarked. "What they've done to Denver is horrific."

Fox News' Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.