Even so, the co-sponsors of the ordinance, councilmembers Crystal Murillo and Alison Coombs, plan to formally introduce the ordinance at a full city council meeting in early 2021. "Our goal is to support our immigrant community to create a perception of safety in our community," Murillo said.
The session, which preceded the Aurora City Council's official December 21 meeting, featured dueling testimony from a top Colorado Immigration and Customs Enforcement official and Arash Jahanian, a high-profile lawyer from an immigration and civil-rights law firm.
Jahanian, who works at the Meyer Law Office, testified that the ordinance wouldn't affect the Aurora Police Department's ability to assist federal immigration authorities with criminal law enforcement, but would only restrict the department's cooperation when it comes to civil immigration enforcement. Denver has a similar policy on the books.