A Colorado state appellate court found that Teller County residents have taxpayer standing to sue the local sheriff over an agreement allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to train county law enforcement to perform ICE duties. 

The appellate panel unanimously held Dec. 16 that a trial court erred in dismissing the plaintiff’s complaint for lack of taxpayer standing since the Teller County Jail, where sheriff’s deputies carry out ICE duties, relies on taxes to operate. The panel reversed and remanded the case to the state’s district court with instructions to reinstate the lawsuit.