Max's Minute | Blogspot

There is something deeply wrong and deeply dangerous about a mayor using the machinery of city government to place law enforcement in tension with law enforcement. That is exactly what is happening in Denver. Let me be clear. I am 100 percent pro-law enforcement. I support the men and women who put on the badge, take the oath, and step into danger so the rest of us can live in peace. That includes local police. It includes deputies. It includes state officers. It includes federal officers. A civilized republic cannot survive without respect for lawful authority and the officers charged with carrying it out. What it cannot survive is political leadership that deliberately pits one branch of law enforcement against another for ideological theater. Mayor Mike Johnston has crossed into reckless territory. His Executive Order 152 does not read like the work of a mayor focused on public safety. It reads like the work of a politician determined to obstruct, posture, and inflame. It bars ...

Recently, a post by Douglas County Watch criticized a sermon delivered by Pastor Bryan Fields of Grace Chapel Castle Rock and suggested that his message on immigration made its way into the Capitol through my remarks in the well of the Colorado House of Representatives. Let me begin with this. I am proud to be part of the Grace family. Grace Chapel provides spiritual leadership that calls us to lead in love and to stand firmly in truth. Pastor Fields’ sermons challenge me to grow in character, humility, and conviction. I value that influence. I embrace it. Faith should shape the moral compass of any serious leader. At the same time, there is an important distinction between the pulpit and the well of the House. A sermon calls people to spiritual transformation. A legislator speaks within a constitutional framework. When I rise to speak in the well, I do so under oath. My words are governed by the Constitution, statutory authority, and the duty I owe to every constituent, regardless of ...

I serve in the Colorado House of Representatives to represent the citizens of House District 45 first. Public safety is not an abstraction. It is the condition that allows families to thrive, businesses to grow, and communities to trust one another. The rule of law is the foundation that makes that possible. A proposal advanced this week at the Capitol, allowing lawsuits against federal immigration agents for carrying out lawful duties, strikes at both. This legislation does not exist in a vacuum. It reflects a growing impulse to treat enforcement itself as a moral failing. That impulse is misguided. When a state punishes those tasked with enforcing the law, it creates hesitation where decisiveness is required. It replaces clarity with confusion. In that vacuum, criminal networks flourish, victims multiply, and order erodes. No society can remain safe when those sworn to protect it are treated as adversaries. America has always been a nation of immigrants, but it has never been a nati...

The Colorado General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 25-276 , a piece of legislation that directly violates federal law, obstructs the work of law enforcement, and threatens the safety of every community in our state. As someone who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect Coloradans, I opposed this bill in the strongest terms possible. SB25-276 prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, including in cases where individuals have been charged with or convicted of serious crimes. It creates bureaucratic “no-go zones” for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and shields illegal immigrants, including those with violent records, from lawful deportation efforts. This is not speculation. The Justice Department has already filed suit against the State of Colorado for this flagrant disregard of federal immigration law. And let me be clear: they are right to do so. SB25-276 is a direct affront to the Supremacy Clause of...

The defeat of SB25-047  in committee is a profound setback for the safety and security of Colorado's citizens. This bill aimed to reverse policies that inhibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, thereby addressing a growing public safety crisis. By voting against this bill brought by Senator Mark Baisley and me, Democrats have effectively tied the hands of law enforcement, making it more difficult to apprehend and deport individuals who pose legitimate threats to our communities. SB25-047 would have reinstated provisions requiring local governments to report individuals suspected of being illegally present to federal authorities, a practice that was repealed in 2013 . This repeal has coincided with a significant rise in crime, including violent offenses, committed by individuals who should not have been in the country in the first place. The bill also sought to end prohibitions on local governments contracting with private entities for immi...

As the State Representative for District 45, I stand in unwavering support of Senate Bill 25-047 , a bill that restores common sense and accountability to Colorado's law enforcement agencies. This legislation is not about politics; it is about ensuring the safety of every law-abiding Colorado resident by empowering law enforcement to do their jobs without unnecessary state-imposed barriers. For too long, Colorado has been shackled by laws that have turned our state into a sanctuary for illegal migrants who commit crimes. These laws do not protect the hardworking men and women of our communities; they protect criminals who operate with impunity under the veil of sanctuary policies.  Senate Bill 25-047 seeks to correct this dangerous precedent by allowing law enforcement to communicate freely with federal immigration authorities when they arrest individuals who are in this country illegally and have committed crimes. This bill does not encourage or mandate racial profiling or mass de...

Illegal migration is not a theoretical issue in Douglas County; it is a pressing reality that demands immediate attention and decisive action. As your state representative for House District 45 and a councilman for Castle Rock, I can confidently say that the policies currently in place have failed to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law. The Biden administration’s failure to secure the southern border has left Colorado to deal with the consequences of poor immigration policies. Denver’s decision to welcome illegal migrants from Texas, compounded by its request for $90 million to fund an asylum seekers program, has brought approximately 43,000 illegal migrants into the state. This influx has turned what should have been a municipal decision into a statewide challenge, spreading across the Front Range and impacting every corner of Colorado. The inability of local law enforcement to coordinate directly with immigration officials due to state legislation further exacerbates t...

In a notable shift, Governor Jared Polis has taken a commendable stance on one of the most critical challenges facing our state and nation: illegal migration. Speaking during his State of the State address, the Governor acknowledged the urgent need for effective immigration enforcement, including federal support to detain and deport dangerous criminals who threaten the safety of Coloradans. This position reflects a pragmatic commitment to justice, public safety, and the well-being of our communities. While Governor Polis deserves recognition for addressing these pressing issues, it’s worth noting that some of Colorado’s current challenges stem from earlier policy decisions that failed to adequately confront the complexities of illegal migration. By now emphasizing the importance of combating organized crime, human trafficking, and the illegal flow of guns and drugs, the Governor is making strides to fulfill his responsibility to protect Colorado’s residents. His statement “In Colorado...

Representative Max Brooks has proudly signed on as a sponsor of SB25-047 , a bill that seeks to strengthen Colorado’s laws by ensuring clear and enforceable penalties for criminal activity. This legislation aligns directly with Rep. Brooks’ commitment to protecting Colorado communities and addressing issues tied to illegal migration. SB25-047 proposes enhanced penalties for crimes involving organized theft, human trafficking, and property destruction - issues that are increasingly linked to illegal migrants and organized criminal networks. The bill seeks to close gaps in current law, giving law enforcement the tools they need to deter and combat these activities. Rep. Brooks believes this measure is critical to safeguarding communities in Castle Rock, the surrounding areas, and across Colorado. “This legislation is about protecting our citizens and ensuring justice for those impacted by criminal acts,” said Rep. Brooks. “Illegal migrants participating in organized criminal activity und...

As your Representative-elect for House District 45 and a Castle Rock Town Councilman, I want to address an issue that continues to impact our communities - public safety and immigration enforcement. Recently, Castle Rock took a stand by supporting federal immigration enforcement policies, and I fully support this decision. This vote wasn’t about politics - it was about protecting our families and restoring accountability. The reality is clear: sanctuary policies, which shield individuals who violate immigration laws, have emboldened criminal activity, strained local resources, and eroded public trust in the justice system. Let me be clear - compassion does not mean chaos. True compassion is protecting the innocent, securing our neighborhoods, and fostering a society rooted in justice. Turning a blind eye to illegal activity under the guise of virtue does not help our communities - it hurts them. This is not a partisan issue. It’s about ensuring law-abiding residents are prioritized ove...

Colorado is at a crossroads, and for many residents, the decisions being made in Denver are causing significant unease. As unchecked illegal immigration continues to strain local resources and compromise public safety, communities across the state are grappling with the unintended consequences of policies driven by blind moral posturing rather than practical solutions. Castle Rock, in particular, has become a focal point in the fight to address Denver’s failures, and the growing frustration among Coloradans is impossible to ignore. Castle Rock Pushes Back Against Denver’s Mismanagement Castle Rock has emerged as a leader in calling attention to the ripple effects of Denver's sanctuary city policies. Local officials in Castle Rock are stepping up to address challenges caused by Denver’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. As highlighted in recent reporting, the small but determined town is working to shield its residents from the unintended consequences of mas...

Governor Jared Polis’s decision to cut funding for critical pediatric behavioral therapy and resources for Colorado children with autism to fund the “Cover All Coloradans” program is a disgrace. This isn’t just bad policy - it’s a blatant betrayal of the very people our elected officials are supposed to serve: American citizens, especially the most vulnerable among us. Let’s be clear: “Cover All Coloradans” is nothing more than a sanctuary city policy wrapped in Medicaid branding. It’s designed to extend taxpayer-funded health care to illegal immigrants, and its costs are spiraling out of control. What started as a program serving 3,700 people at $34 million in 2022 has ballooned to an estimated 15,000 people and $51 million by 2025. Of that, $39 million will come directly from Colorado’s general fund - the same fund now being drained of money that should be used to support children with autism and other developmental disabilities (IDD). Our elected officials, who swore to represent th...