(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) has reinstated a formal collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and hopes to strengthen collaboration in the future through a bill in Colorado’s State Capitol.

El Paso County Sheriff, Joseph Roybal, called Colorado a haven for criminal immigrants. He hopes to change that with the new partnership.

“A couple weeks ago, the Governor himself said law enforcement can work with ICE. That will be my first defense when ACLU files a lawsuit, because we are moving forward,” said Roybal.

Roybal said he worked with attorneys on this to make sure he’s following state law.

They will now contact ICE immediately if someone entering their facility was not born in the U.S. ICE will also be notified if someone with an ICE detainer is scheduled to be released or bonded out. If the sheriff’s office has not completed the release when ICE arrives, they will assist with the transfer of custody.

“We have no desire to deal with families, do roundups, single moms, grandparents, or any other undocumented illegal aliens,” said Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, who was at the press conference to speak in support of the bill. “We only want to deal with people that commit crimes in Colorado. “

Roybal said the bill that hopes to strengthen their partnership with ICE would allow him to hold people for the agency.

“That’s what I’m asking for. Allow me to hold those criminals for ICE at the El Paso County Jail,” said Roybal. “We want to hold violent criminals accountable who are here in the United States illegally.”

FOX21 News asked if being undocumented is enough to consider someone a criminal. Teller County Sheriff Mikesell said that’s a federal crime, and something that their office isn’t concerned with. Mikesell said testimonies for the bill’s passage will be presented in front of the state senate on Feb. 25.