Douglas County law enforcement officials on Wednesday declared support for legislation to flip a state law that has barred local officials from working with federal immigration agents.

If approved by the Democrat-controlled legislature, it would reinstate a bill allowing local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials with a focus on those who commit crimes. That bill was repealed in 2013.

State Sen. Mark Baisley, Rep. Max Brooks and Rep. Chris Richardson are trying to garner support for Senate Bill 25-047 but realize it will be difficult to get it passed.

The bill “does not stand a good chance,” Baisley told The Denver Gazette at a Wednesday news conference. But he said it has a higher chance than in previous attempts due to “the awareness of the public” of immigration issues.

Douglas County law enforcement officials have decried local law enforcement’s inability to connect “violent” criminals, specifically those who illegally arrived into the country, with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State law prohibits local law enforcement from holding immigrants in custody on ICE detainers.

Baisley pointed to Venezuelan gang activity in recent months, in which immigrants are committing crimes “in a way that they think that they’re probably not going to suffer any consequences for their activities,” he said.

Brooks said the bill is “nonpartisan” and “common sense.”

“We want law enforcement to go about their jobs the way we expect them to,” Brooks said. “We’re not hunting for anybody that is here trying to make a good life for themselves. What we are hunting for is to remove the laws that shield illegal migrants and basically allow criminals to go about their criminal enterprises unchecked.”

As of Wednesday morning, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has 20 immigrants in custody who have committed crimes either within or outside the county, according to Sheriff Darren Weekly.

“The ability to take those folks who are here illegally that commit crimes against each other and against members of this community, and get them out of this community. That’s my goal,” said the new 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler.

The bill will be considered on Feb. 25.

“This is a first needed step,” Brauchler said. “My concern is this thing is going to die an unceremonious death on a party line vote.”