LITA 13: Julie Gonzales on Colorado’s Secret ICE Holding Rooms and a Progressive Challenge to Hickenlooper
Ana and Deep host Colorado State Senator Julie Gonzales to discuss her U.S. Senate campaign challenging incumbent John Hickenlooper, arguing Colorado needs stronger leadership on affordability, worker power, and civil liberties. Gonzales shares her background growing up on an Apache reservation and on the South Texas border, her path from organizing to the state senate, and her focus on policies like universal child and elder care and Medicare for All while rejecting corporate PAC money. The episode highlights reports of nine secret ICE “holding rooms” in Colorado used to detain people far beyond intended limits, including children and the elderly, and connects immigration detention to for-profit incentives and surveillance. They also discuss U.S. escalation with Iran without congressional authorization, potential regional expansion, and impacts on working-class people. The episode ends with a call to contact Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet to oppose Markwayne Mullin for DHS.
Leave us a review on the apps! Call and leave a voicemail at (303) 416-2846.
Colorado Times Reporter: Secret ICE Detention Facilities Exist Around Colorado, Data Shows https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2026/03/exclusive-secret-ice-detention-facilities-exist-around-colorado-data-shows/76983/
5 Calls: Oppose Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary: https://5calls.org/issue/markwayne-mullin-dhs-secretary/
Casa De Paz: https://www.casadepazcolorado.org/
Confirmers are trained volunteers who respond to possible ICE activity and gather accurate info to keep our community safe and informed. Colorado Rapid Response Network hosts Confirmer trainings for registered members: https://coloradorapidresponsenetwork.com/event/
Julie Gonzales website: https://www.julieforcolorado.com/
00:00 Welcome and Topics
00:20 Snow Day and Socks
02:32 Meet Julie Gonzalez
03:53 Julie Origin Story
07:28 Senate Race Breakdown
09:16 Why Challenge Hickenlooper
14:11 Colorado Caucus Explained
19:07 Campaign Priorities and Endorsements
21:55 Secret ICE Holding Rooms
22:39 Secret ICE Holding Sites
23:06 Inside the Detention Pipeline
23:50 Profit Driven Detention
26:28 Oversight Blocked in Aurora
28:53 Big Bill and DHS Cash
31:08 War With Iran Expands
35:05 Who Pays the Price
38:30 Surveillance Comes Home
40:38 Purges and Extremism
45:10 Oath to Constitution
45:40 Call to Action DHS Vote
47:42 Campaign Pitch and History
49:54 Wrap Up and Aftershow
Meet Your Hosts
Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action.
Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.
Links:
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Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
