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MorningMagazine_2025-04-23 Gabrielle Mendoza
Alien Enemies Act Ruling Favors Detainees
A Federal judge in Denver has extended a temporary order that prevents the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan individuals detained in Colorado.
The ruling by Judge Charlotte Sweeney came yesterday, after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and an immigrant rights group argued that two Venezuelan men were being denied due process of law. The Colorado Sun says the judge’s ruling applies not just to those two men, but to all Venezuelan migrants being held in Aurora.
Back in March, Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to detain and deport immigrants to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador. That prison which has been accused of torturing prisoners. The ACLU says many of those deported have had little to no notice, and haven’t been able to talk to a lawyer.
According to Reuters, the judge also ruled that the individuals must have their rights explained to them in a language they understand.
Judge Sweeney’s temporary restraining order is in effect until May 6th, but could be extended beyond that date.
Trans Ban Demand
An alliance of Colorado education officials is demanding that the Colorado High School Activities Association, or CHSAA, ban transgender athletes from participating in high school girls sports.
The group, representing twenty-four school districts and charter schools, wrote to the CHSAA earlier this month with what they termed “an urgent and resolute demand” that the CHSAA “immediately adopt rules and practices to ensure that boys are not permitted to compete as girls in girls sports.”
The Denver Post is reporting, however, that at a public meeting yesterday, the CHSAA’s legal counsel indicated it would not change its policy and intends to remain neutral on the issue. It would leave decisions relating to high school trans athletes to member schools.
CHSAA legal council Alex Halpern added at a meeting last week that the Association doesn’t collect information about trans athletes, and that it’s “not [their] business to know.”
The coalition demanding the trans athlete ban includes the Douglas County School District, Academy School District 20, and Colorado Springs School District 11, according to The Post. It says their demand is in line with a Trump executive order called “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” That order threatened to rescind federal funds for school districts and associations that don’t comply.
Trump Admin Helps Tina Peters
The Trump administration appears to be inserting itself into the case of a former Mesa County election clerk.
Tina Peters was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison for giving Trump supporters access to election equipment after his 2020 defeat.
Now, the U.S. Justice Department is trying to intervene. In a court filing last month, the U.S. Assistant Attorney General wrote that there have been “reasonable concerns” raised about Peters’ prosecution. Peters’ case is among those the government is reviewing for “abuses of the criminal justice process.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has taken a stand against the DOJ, and is trying to get a judge to block their involvement. Lawyers from Weiser’s office say the DOJ has not given any good reason why it should intervene, and added that “Peters was prosecuted because she broke the law,” and not for political reasons.
Peters has expressed wanting to be released from prison while she appeals her conviction.
That’s all according to The Denver Post.
Single-Day Denver Juneteenth
This summer’s Juneteenth celebration in Denver is going to be a one-day-only event.
Organizers say they are faced with an $80,000 budget shortage, resulting from the loss of several long-time sponsors “amid shifting corporate priorities and a changing philanthropic landscape.”
Last year’s event was two days long, funded by a $325,000 budget.
The Post said that organizers declined to say whether the situation is related to pressure over diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which have intensified since Donald Trump took office.
It’s scheduled to be in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood on Sunday, June 15th. Organizers said the Juneteenth Music Festival will still be a showcase of unity and celebration.
They added that anyone who would like to help support Denver’s Juneteenth event this year can make a donation here.
Air Quality Rules
Colorado’s new air quality rules went into effect last Friday.
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, or AQCC, passed the rules with a unanimous vote.
The new rules identify 344 air pollutants as Toxic Air Contaminants. Thanks to Adams and Boulder Counties, which came together to act as a Local Government Coalition, ultrafine particles and black carbon were added to that list.
AQCC also voted to increase fees for the companies responsible for a lot of air pollution in the state.
To learn more about the new policies, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s website.
