Amendment 81: Law Enforcement Communication with Federal Immigration Authorities
Amendment 81 on Colorado's November 3, 2026 ballot (a statewide measure). Passes with at least 55 percent of votes cast. Plain-language summary of what YES and NO mean, with sources.
Would require certain law enforcement, corrections, and district attorney personnel to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security within 72 hours after formally charging someone with a crime of violence, or charging anyone who has a prior felony conviction, when that person is not confirmed to be lawfully present or their status cannot be determined. The duty begins at charging, not arrest. A YES vote: Law enforcement would be required to notify federal immigration authorities after filing certain criminal charges against people not confirmed to be lawfully present. A NO vote: Current law continues: cooperation with federal immigration authorities is allowed in some criminal matters, while state and local involvement in civil immigration enforcement stays limited. It passes with at least 55 percent of votes cast. This explanation was prepared with AI assistance and compared with the official Blue Book by an automated process; no person has signed off on it. Confirm details with the official sources.