An association representing Colorado immigration attorneys is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over immigration-court access problems at the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building in downtown Denver.
Security guards at the building allegedly kept a longtime Denver immigration attorney and his undocumented client from entering the building for a court hearing recently unless they produced United States-issued identification cards or submitted to criminal-background checks.
The suit filed in federal court last week said that constituted an abusive and intimidating practice and was a deterrent to immigrants trying to get to court-mandated hearings.
“Nobody should be afraid to go to court,” said Bryon Large, chairman of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Colorado Chapter.
The lawsuit and a request for a restraining order to stop the practice names three Department of Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Jeh Johnson. It was filed on behalf of David Kolko, an immigration lawyer since 1988 and chairman-elect of the Immigration Lawyers Association’s Colorado chapter; and his client Luis Alberto Rojas Gomez. The Colorado chapter of the AILA is also named as a petitioner.
The suit states that Kolko and Rojas Gomez were entering the federal building at 1961 Stout St. on April 16 when they were stopped by guards and asked to show government-issued identification. Kolko refused and was allegedly told he would have to submit to a National Crime Information Center background check before he could enter the building.
Rojas Gomez, who was scheduled to be in court for a removal proceeding, was detained and delayed for his hearing because he could not provide a U.S. identification card.
The suit said some other attorneys and members of the public were stopped and had to undergo background checks when they couldn’t produce proper identification. Normally, those entering the court building must show some form of identification and go through a scanner that searches for weapons.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment on the court-access practices or the lawsuit.
Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957, nlofholm@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nlofholm
