HB 18-1178 Summary

• Creates civil liability for Colorado jurisdictions and elected officials who adopt sanctuary policies, allowing crime victims injured by illegal aliens residing in sanctuary jurisdictions to sue for compensatory damages up to $700,000 per person for personal injury or $350,000 per person for property damage.

• Establishes the crime of "rendering assistance to an illegal alien through a sanctuary jurisdiction" as a class 4 felony for elected officials responsible for creating sanctuary policies when a third-party illegal alien commits a crime causing injury.

• Prohibits jurisdictions from restricting official communications or cooperation with federal immigration authorities regarding immigration status and requires annual compliance reports to the Department of Public Safety.

• Mandates law enforcement officers report individuals believed to be unlawfully present to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and requires jurisdictions to report annually on the number of such reports.

• Authorizes state controller to withhold state funds from non-compliant jurisdictions and allows private citizens to file affidavits with the Attorney General or district attorney requesting criminal charges against responsible elected officials.