Shielded From Justice

What We Believe

Governor Jared Polis claims that Colorado is not “in any way, shape, or form, a sanctuary state.” However, during his two terms in office, the Governor has signed four main laws specifically designed to create and strengthen Colorado’s sanctuary state status. In addition, Governor Polis signed multiple companion laws that make photo IDs more easily accessible to illegal immigrants, allow illegal immigrants who plead guilty to ask for a dismissal of the criminal charge if they were not warned of the implications of a guilty plea to their immigration status, provide increasing taxpayer funding for illegal immigrants’ healthcare even while citizens’ programs are being cut from the state budget, create an immigration legal defense fund paid for by taxpayers, and ban ICE from making arrests on courthouse grounds.

The fact that Colorado is the second most dangerous state in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, makes it clear that our sanctuary state laws certainly aren’t achieving the Governor’s stated purpose. Instead, they are helping to perpetuate the failure of public safety in Colorado.

This report outlines in detail why Colorado is, without question, a sanctuary state.

Michael Tsogt

Michael Tsogt is a Policy Analyst at the Advance Colorado Institute. His areas of policy and research include education, budget/fiscal matters, and TABOR. He has testified on a wide range of bills before the Colorado legislature, including a bill proposing education savings accounts for special needs and foster care kids in Colorado. During his undergraduate years, Michael was elected as an Academic Senator for student government, covered sports & entertainment for the student newspaper, and participated in several political fellowships and opportunities, including the Center for the Study of Government and the Individual as a Bastiat Fellow. Prior to COVID interrupting plans, Michael was accepted into a study abroad program at Oxford University where he had intended to study Aristotle and political philosophy for a semester. Michael graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in political science. He and his wife live in Colorado Springs.

At Advance Colorado, we believe in an education system that puts Colorado parents and students first through a system that emphasizes:

At the heart of Colorado’s school system is school choice, in which our state has been a national trailblazer for decades. – a system that has enjoyed deep, bipartisan support.

What We Do

We craft cutting edge policies that empower parents, taxpayers, and teachers and push back on the status quo interests that resist reform.

Our 2024 Policy Agenda includes several important education reform priorities. Read it HERE

This year, we are leading the charge to protect the school choice rights we currently have – rights that are annually under siege from the education establishment groups that want to eliminate your right to choose the best school for your children. We can secure our rights into the future through a school choice amendment to the Colorado Constitution.

Read our policy brief on this important issue HERE.

What You Can Do

We help citizens become advocates and leaders.

Whether you are a concerned parent, grandparent or taxpayer, Advance Colorado can equip you with the knowledge and tools to be an effective advocate for high quality, accountable schools. Learn more about our ambassador program.

And if you are interested in running to become a member of your local school board, you can apply to participate in the Advance Colorado Academy New Leader program. LINK If you are a current school board member, you can enroll in our “You’ve Won, Now What?” program. Learn more about our “You’ve Won, Now What?” program.