Durango City Council Approves Immigration Task Force to Guide Policy

(DURANGO, COLORADO) The Durango City Council voted on October 7, 2025 to create an immigration task force designed to support immigrant residents, shape future city policy, and ensure immigrant voices are included in decisions at City Hall. Council members said the move responded to mounting community concerns about federal immigration enforcement actions in the city and tensions that have flared around recent protests and arrests involving federal agents.

The resolution directs the city to stand up an immigration task force and determine how it will be administered, with details to be refined in the weeks ahead. Councilor Jessika Buell, who proposed the measure, said the process was built on feedback from local groups and residents who have pressed for more consistent city support.

“I spent a lot of time to try and make sure that it was supported by our community and a good first step,” Buell said.

The council acted as residents have increasingly voiced fears about federal operations in Durango, including protest clashes and arrests that have unsettled families. Council members said they wanted the city’s approach to be careful, deliberate, and guided by those most affected. The council also referenced recent demonstrations and incidents involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that prompted calls for a structured response.

Buell proposed a task force that would bring together city officials and community advocates. The suggested makeup includes representatives from the city manager’s and city attorney’s offices, a member of the Durango Police Department, one or two members of the city’s Community & Cultural Relations Commission, and individuals from organizations such as Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center. The aim is to combine legal, enforcement, and community perspectives within one group that can advise the council and city departments.

Councilor Kip Koso backed moving forward but warned the council to account for potential risks as it defines the scope of the immigration task force.

“I’m interested in doing things that keep 10 or 20 local families whose lives have already been shattered by the federal government from becoming 50 families that are torn apart by actions by ICE along with defunded transportation and other vital services. I worry about escalation. That’s not a reason not to move forward, but when we do move forward, we should move forward with those concerns as part of the discussion,” Koso said.

City Attorney Mark Morgan told the council the resolution was drafted to go as far as possible without jeopardizing federal funding or creating legal complications for the city. Council members said those legal guardrails will continue to shape how the group is structured and what recommendations it brings back. Residents who spoke at the meeting urged the council to include immigrants on the task force itself and to keep passing resolutions that express support for immigrant rights, arguing that formal city actions have helped calm fear and build trust.

The vote comes after weeks of heightened tension around federal enforcement, including an incident on October 28, 2025, outside the Durango ICE facility where a federal agent was seen using force on a protester. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has opened a review at the request of Durango Police Chief Brice Current; the city said it asked for an independent look to ensure a thorough accounting of what happened. The probe is being handled by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which conducts criminal investigations across the state when requested by local authorities.

Protesters had gathered after the detention of a family near a school earlier that week, and immigration agents reportedly used “aggressive tactics” to disperse the crowd. That episode, and the images that circulated online afterward, fueled calls from residents and advocacy groups for clearer local policies, better communication, and more support for families caught up in enforcement actions. Council members said they heard from parents, teachers, and religious leaders worried about children witnessing arrests and the lingering anxiety that follows.

Supporters of the new immigration task force argue it can give the Durango City Council a formal way to hear directly from immigrant residents and those who work with them daily—rather than relying on ad hoc meetings driven by a crisis. The proposal envisions a standing forum where legal advice from the city attorney, operational input from the Durango Police Department, and community expertise from groups like Compañeros can be weighed together before the council adopts policy or makes public statements. City staff will also advise on what is feasible under state and federal law.

Buell told colleagues the task force is designed to be a practical first step, not a sweeping rewrite of local practice overnight. She said the group could map out options for how the city communicates with residents during federal operations, how it connects families to resources after detentions, and how to coordinate with schools, clinics, and nonprofits when enforcement actions affect children and vulnerable people. The council said keeping immigrant voices “in the room” would be central to these discussions, a point echoed by residents who addressed the meeting.

Koso’s comments reflected persistent worries in small cities about federal retaliation or the loss of grants if local policies are seen as hostile to federal agencies. While some residents urged the council to move quickly to declare broader protections, others supported Morgan’s advice to avoid steps that could put budgets or essential services at risk. Council members said the immigration task force offers a way to balance those concerns—helping families without crossing legal lines or jeopardizing transportation or public safety funding that the city relies on.

The council’s resolution also responds to a clear shift in the tone of local debate since the protest outside the ICE facility. Parents described children afraid to walk near certain blocks; advocates said families stopped attending clinics or visiting parks for fear of encountering enforcement officers. Residents who spoke at the meeting asked the city to create channels for ongoing feedback—through the task force and through routine council updates—so problems can be addressed before they escalate. Council members said they want the group to propose steps that improve communication and rebuild trust.

City staff will return to the Durango City Council with options for how the task force will be administered, including appointment processes, meeting schedules, and reporting timelines. The council plans to receive updates at upcoming meetings, including a public hearing on the proposed 2026 city budget, giving residents a chance to comment on structure and priorities. The city encouraged people to submit feedback on the task force and other initiatives through the Engage Durango platform as well as at public meetings in the coming weeks.

As the immigration task force takes shape, residents and advocacy groups will watch for details on how many members it includes, how immigrant participation is ensured, and how often it will report back. City leaders said they expect early recommendations to focus on communication during enforcement actions, coordination with schools and community centers, and connections to legal and social services. The council underscored that the group’s work must fit within legal boundaries laid out by the city attorney, with specific attention to avoiding conflicts with federal law.

For many families, the council’s action on October 7, 2025 offered a measure of reassurance after a difficult month. Advocates said the decision signals that city officials are paying attention to what happens outside ICE facilities and in neighborhoods where detentions have occurred. Council members emphasized that the task force is not meant to pick a fight with federal agencies but to make sure city policy reflects local values and protects residents’ safety and dignity.

Questions remain about the timelines and how quickly the immigration task force can deliver recommendations. Councilors said they want to move with urgency but will take time to hear from those most affected. Buell said the goal is to keep the process rooted in community input, and Morgan said legal considerations will be integrated from the start to prevent costly missteps. Koso urged colleagues to weigh potential consequences as they proceed, reiterating his call to prevent further harm to families already shaken by recent events.

Residents seeking more information were directed to contact Tom Sluis, the city’s public information officer, at (970) 375-5090. City staff said notices about future discussions will appear on Engage Durango and regular council agendas, including the public budget hearing tied to 2026 spending plans. Council members said they expect to revisit the immigration task force at multiple meetings as they finalize its membership, scope, and schedule.

The Durango City Council’s vote sets in motion a local response to a federal issue that has played out on city streets and outside a local federal facility. By creating an immigration task force with representation from the city manager’s office, city attorney’s office, the Durango Police Department, the Community & Cultural Relations Commission, and community groups such as Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center, the council is betting that consistent dialogue can lower tensions and guide policy. Whether that approach eases fears and prevents further confrontations will become clearer as the investigation into the October 28, 2025 incident proceeds and the task force begins its work.