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In the NoCo

How a Colorado lawmaker is pushing for stronger regulations on how ICE agents operate

 A blue sign that says "Aurora ICE Processing Center"
David Zalubowski
/
AP

Scenes of ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis have dominated headlines and news footage in recent weeks.

Those images also raise concerns about immigration enforcement in Colorado. The state saw a surge in arrests since President Trump took office a year ago – and some people are worried that what happened in Minneapolis might play out here.

Today, we talk with an elected official who’s working to place stronger restrictions on how ICE operates in Colorado and nationally. Democratic Congressman Joe Neguse, and other lawmakers, are working to negotiate new rules for ICE agents.

Rep. Neguse is also the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security about guaranteeing members of Congress access to ICE detention centers. He and Rep. Jason Crow made an unannounced visit to the ICE detention facility in Aurora on Thursday – a day after he spoke with Erin O’Toole about some of the reforms he’s pursuing. (The introduction to this episode was updated after it was initially published to add a mention of that visit.)

This conversation was part of a longer interview with Neguse. On Thursday, he spoke about efforts to prevent the dismantling of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. Listen to that interview here.

Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago.
Paul Sancya
/
AP
Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago.

KUNC's In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, news, people and issues. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show brings context and insight to the stories of the day, often elevating unheard voices in the process. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we celebrate the lighter side of things here, too.
As the host of KUNC’s news program and podcast In The NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.
Brad Turner is an executive producer in KUNC's newsroom. He manages the podcast team that makes In The NoCo, which also airs weekdays in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His work as a podcaster and journalist has appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition, NPR Music, the PBS Newshour, Colorado Public Radio, MTV Online, the Denver Post, Boulder's Daily Camera, and the Longmont Times-Call.