The El Paso County jail will have to release immigrant inmates after they've done their time, even if federal immigration authorities want them held longer, after a ruling by the state Supreme Court.
El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder had been holding some inmates for weeks and months beyond their sentences, or after they posted bail at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The American Civil Liberties Union challenged that policy and a state judge last month granted a preliminary injunction which required the sheriff to let those people go. The judge said the practice is unconstitutional.
Sheriff elder appealed that decision but the state Supreme Court on Thursday denied his appeal. For the most part Colorado's other county sheriff's don't honor ICE retainers.
