Shannon Bird’s ICE Problem

In a Latino-heavy swing district in Colorado, the Democrat’s vow to “hold ICE accountable” collides with a record of siding with Republicans to shield immigration enforcement from state limits.

WASHINGTON — Former Colorado state Rep. Shannon Bird is running for Congress on a promise to “hold ICE accountable” and protect immigrant communities, but her voting record in Denver shows a pattern of siding with Republicans to weaken limits on immigration enforcement and block civil-rights protections for immigrants.

Running on ICE accountability

Bird, a Westminster Democrat who resigned her state House seat in January to run in Colorado’s ultra-competitive 8th Congressional District, is pitching herself as a champion for immigrant families in a district with the highest share of Hispanic voters in the state, around 40 percent. On her campaign website and social media, she highlights stories of families living in fear of immigration raids and promotes a new “plan on holding ICE accountable and keeping our communities safe,” directing voters to a dedicated ICE accountability page.

In that messaging, Bird criticizes Republican Rep. Gabe Evans for, in her telling, standing by while ICE …