A resolution to declare the Town of Monument as a non-sanctuary town appeared on the agenda for the Town Council after El Paso County’s Jan. 31 press conference and local rumors.

The Monument Council placed a resolution on its Feb. 20 agenda to review a resolution regarding migrant response and declaration status as a non-sanctuary town. The resolution was drafted in part by a press conference held by the El Paso County Commissioners and Colorado Springs City Council member Dave Donelson Jan. 31 as a response to news of migrants arriving in Colorado Springs.

That day, El Paso County officials presented a declaration against it becoming a sanctuary county, and against the federal and state government for lack of action in stemming illegal immigration.

Ahead of the resolution, the last meeting of council, Feb. 5 at town hall, was addressed during public comment as to what safeguards the town has against migrants that have entered the country illegally which could arrive inside town limits as bleedover from Denver and Colorado Springs.

The following week, Monument made its drafted resolution regarding the issue ahead of its Feb. 20 regular meeting, upon which the resolution would be discussed and voted on.

After discussion with the chief of police, Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind said there are limits to what the municipality can do to stave an influx of migrants arriving in the town.

“For the record, it is not my position as mayor nor is it any position and authority of the council to expel and check papers on people that come into town,” LaKind said. “It is not against the law to speak Spanish or any other language, so we are not going to play Gestapo tactics.”

LaKind went on to address a rumor which led to a registered complaint of two busloads of people, suspected to be migrants who have entered the country illegally, dropped off at the Walmart on Jackson Creek in Monument. LaKind said it was confirmed with the management of the local Walmart location that no such event had taken place.

“Immediately, upon getting that email, it literally took me 30 seconds to forward that to the town manager and the chief of police and [the police department] immediately dispatched police to the Walmart, and there was no evidence of congregating people in large groups that may have fit the description of busloads of immigrants,” the mayor said. “There were no busloads in the parking lot and there was no congregating around the building, and Walmart management confirmed that.”

LaKind said there have been no events like that which took place in Monument and that what was done as a response to such a complaint was the most the town was able to perform.

A sanctuary town is defined as a municipality which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, limits or fails to provide information about immigration status and limits the length of immigration detainers.

The resolution, as drafted, states the town believes in and is committed to securing the border, enforcing immigration laws to protect the community and upholding laws of the state of Colorado and the principles of the United State Constitution and as the citizens of the town have expressed concern over the transport of migrants entering the country illegally in the town’s limits, which may compromise the safety, well-being and resources of town residents.

The resolution further states that the transport of migrants entering the country illegally into the Town of Monument may compromise the safety, well-being and resources of its residents and the Town recognizes the importance of legal immigration and welcomes individuals to apply through the legal process.

In addition, the resolution encourages a dialogue and collaboration between the town and state and federal authorities to address immigration concerns and work towards solutions which align with the well-being and safety of the community. It states Monument also urges its residents to support and uphold the principles of legal immigration, respecting the laws and process in place, declaring itself a “non-sanctuary” town.