Colorado has become the latest state to prohibit local jails and prisons from entering into contracts with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to detain immigrants who are facing deportation proceedings.

The new law, signed by Governor Jared Polis on June 8, 2023, aims to end the practice of using local facilities as de facto immigration detention centers, which advocates say is harmful to the rights and well-being of immigrants and their families.

According to the law, any existing contracts between local jails and prisons and ICE must be terminated by January 1, 2024, and no new contracts can be made after that date.

Colorado joins California, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington in passing similar legislation to limit or ban local cooperation with ICE on immigration detention.