As President Donald Trump hits the 100-day milestone, his Democratic critics sought to take preemptive actions to block or minimize the impact of his policies, notably in the area of illegal immigration.

Republicans, meanwhile, tried counter the Democrats’ moves, even as they also pushed to undo Colorado’s “sanctuary” policies.

In Colorado, where Democrats hold levers of state power, lawmakers are pushing two major bills to fund legal battles and shield people living in the country unlawfully from immigration enforcement.

Amid $1 billion deficit, lawmakers fund Trump-related litigation  

Amid a $1 billion deficit in the state budget, Democrats plan to pump up to $4 million for potential legal battles against the Trump administration.

This plan comes as Attorney General Phil Weiser joined, on behalf of the state, roughly a dozen legal challenges to Trump administration policies and executive orders.

The funding will allow the state to hire more attorneys at the Department of Law to represent officers or employees in federal legal proceedings “and other related costs that protect state sovereignty and federal funding streams,” according to a fiscal analysis for House Bill 1321.

In a statement to Colorado Politics, Weiser said HB 1321 will help ensure the governor’s office has the resources to support litigation challenging further “illegal actions” against the Trump administration.

“As the Trump administration keeps acting like it’s above the law, we continue to experience an unprecedented number of illegal actions that threaten our state and the rights of Coloradans,” Weiser said. “That’s why I’ve brought over a dozen actions in court to hold this administration accountable and protect against the harms it’s caused to Coloradans, and it’s why I asked the legislature to increase our budget for three additional lawyers to keep up this critical work.”

Democratic House Speaker Julie McCluskie, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, insisted the funding isn’t about Democrats or Republicans.

“It’s about standing up for Colorado and protecting our taxpayers from federal actions that threaten health care, early childhood education, water infrastructure, and public safety,” she said. “Coloradans pay more in federal taxes than we receive back in federal funding. We deserve to have our federal dollars working for us in Colorado.”

HB 1321, which won a party-line 43-22 vote in the House, now awaits a Senate vote before heading to the governor’s desk for approval.

The bill defers to the governor on how to use the money, which opponents, such as Loveland Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg, called irresponsible.

“We were told the (infrastructure fund) would be used for roads, bridges, and water systems,” he said, noting the funding came from federal infrastructure dollars.

Instead, Weinberg said, the bill uses that money as a blank check to the governor’s office — when taxpayers expected roads, not, he added, frivolous lawsuits.

“There are no guardrails, no oversight. It’s a misuse of taxpayer dollars,” he said. “This is not about protecting Colorado’s sovereignty. It’s about protecting power.”

Democrats seek to inoculate immigrants from Trump policies

Democrats, led by Sen. Julie Gonzalez of Denver, are pushing to pass legislation that seeks to limit access by immigration officers into schools, including colleges and universities, health care centers and daycare facilities — unless the agents can present a warrant — and penalize, under specific situations, Colorado entities that provide information about their students, clients or patients.

State Republicans have countered that immigration enforcement is necessary, following years of porous borders.

Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, said earlier this month that immigration policy is out of control, and “we are seeking now to bring it into balance.”

He said immigration policy is not a state matter — it’s a federal issue and Senate Bill 276 would undermine federal policy and overstep the latter’s legislative authority.

Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, raised concerns by sheriffs in his district about how this would affect their operations.

Ahead of November’s election, Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration, starting first with convicted criminals and individuals accused of violent crimes.

To date, there have been no reports in Colorado of immigration officers raiding a school, hospital or childcare facility.

Nationally, there have been reports of university students being apprehended and visas being revoked. The State Department said the actions have been made “in order to secure America’s borders and keep our communities safe.”

Under SB 276, those caught violating the law, such as childcare facilities that provide immigrants’ information, could be fined up to $50,000 per incident, and the money would be turned over to the state’s immigration defense fund.

Already approved by the Senate, SB 276 is headed to the Democratic-controlled House, which is expected to pass the measure.

Marianne Goodland contributed to this report.