I am co-sponsoring or going to be co-sponsoring: The Protecting Sensitive Location Act, legislation to protect immigrant communities when they are at their most vulnerable, codifying the long-standing policy prohibiting ICE from carrying out law enforcement activity in protected areas such as schools, hospitals, and churches.
I will co-sponsor legislation to protect immigrant communities by prohibiting ICE law enforcement activity in protected areas such as schools, hospitals, and churches.
Occurrences
Evidence
The bill text requires DHS to report on “encounters that have occurred since January 21, 2025, at sensitive or protected locations, including schools, places of worship, hospitals, child care centers, courthouses, and other locations where minor children may be present.” It was introduced by Mr. Vasquez with Ms. Budzinski and Mr. Vargas; Gabe Evans is not listed as a sponsor or cosponsor in the bill text.
GovInfo shows a new House bill introduced on April 20, 2026, titled the “Keep Immigration Enforcement Out of Schools Act,” referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. The bill would prohibit federal education funds from being available to education agencies or institutions that release student records for immigration enforcement.
GovInfo’s related documents page shows introduction of H.R. 8239 in the 119th Congress, a bill to prohibit harassment of persons lawfully exercising First Amendment rights at a place of religious worship, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Evans said he voted to pass DHS appropriations funding “our federal law enforcement, FEMA, TSA, border patrol agents,” and the release says the package included funds for “ICE body cams” and “$300 million to strengthen security for religious and synagogues.”
The release says Evans voted for the Laken Riley Act and argues Colorado law prevents local law enforcement from honoring ICE detainers.
Assessments
The promise was specifically to co-sponsor federal legislation prohibiting ICE enforcement activity in protected areas such as schools, hospitals, and churches. The available evidence identifies related protected-location bills in the 119th Congress, but none list Gabe Evans as sponsor or cosponsor. His votes and statements on DHS funding, ICE body cameras, religious-site security, and the Laken Riley Act show immigration-enforcement activity, not material advancement of the promised protected-areas prohibition. Because Evans is still serving in the relevant federal office term, the promise is not yet conclusively failed, but it has not been delivered on the current record.
The promise was specific: Evans said he would co-sponsor legislation prohibiting ICE enforcement activity in protected places such as schools, hospitals, and churches. The evidence shows related bills existed in the 119th Congress on protected or sensitive locations, including a bill addressing encounters at schools, places of worship, and hospitals, but Evans is not listed as a sponsor or cosponsor on the closest relevant bill. Other evidence shows he supported DHS funding and tougher immigration enforcement, which cuts against the substance of the pledge rather than fulfilling it. Because there is no evidence here that he actually co-sponsored the promised legislation, the promise has not been delivered in his current term. There is also no evidence of a serious attempt by him to fulfill it, so no effort badge is warranted.