Governor Polis and Attorney General Weiser File Lawsuit Against Federal Government to Receive Public Safety Funding

DENVER - Governor Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser will file a lawsuit in federal court today to ensure that state and local law enforcement agencies receive $2.7 million in public safety funds the state of Colorado is entitled to under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. 

“We are filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to ensure our state gets the funds it needs to protect Coloradans. We are not going to let Coloradans' public safety be held hostage to the Trump administration's immigration agenda” said Governor Jared Polis. “I will not allow the President and his Justice Department to impose on our sovereignty and violate the U.S. constitution.  

“Today it’s justice assistance grants for unrelated immigration conditions. Tomorrow it could be our health care dollars or support for childhood nutrition or some other federal policy with no connection to the welfare of our residents.”

The $2.7 million Congress appropriated to Colorado from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are used for equipment, technology, and training to ensure the safety of our brave law enforcement officers and various other crime-fighting and victims’ services program to keep Colorado communities safe. Courts in Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and California, have all ruled that the Trump administration is violating the constitution by withholding these public safety funds.