Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the Senate's vote to block consideration of a bill that would prohibit law enforcement agencies from receiving certain federal public safety funding if they limit cooperation with immigration enforcement authorities. Passage of the bill would place Colorado among the top states at risk of losing access to public safety and community development funding.

"Our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed sooner rather than later, but this bill offers a sad excuse for a solution. Punishing local law enforcement agencies for not fulfilling the federal government's responsibility is no way to govern. Last Congress, we had a comprehensive bill that would secure our borders, strengthen enforcement, boost the economy, reduce the deficit, and protect millions of families. It passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support. If we want to tackle immigration in a serious way, then that is where we should start."

# # #