Colorado
Rep Brittany Pettersen Introduces Disaster Data Protection Act for Colorado Emergency Privacy
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Key points
- Rep. Brittany Pettersen introduced H.R. 10894, the Disaster Data Protection Act, during an October 2026 roundtable in Lakewood, Colorado.
- The bill prohibits ICE from accessing third-party emergency data during natural disasters without a judicial warrant.
- The proposal follows the 2026 Willow and Aspen Acres Fires in Custer and Lake counties, which burned over 100,000 acres.
NewsWK — Federal lawmakers are taking steps to address privacy concerns following major wildfires in Colorado. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen introduced federal legislation to limit law enforcement access to personal emergency records.
What Is the Colorado ICE Disaster Data Bill Introduced in Congress?
The Colorado ICE disaster data bill blocks federal immigration authorities from accessing private emergency records without a warrant. It is officially titled the Disaster Data Protection Act. Then, Rep. Brittany Pettersen announced H.R. 10894 on October 22, 2026, during an immigration roundtable in Lakewood, Colorado. The effort aims to ensure all residents seek safety during natural disasters.
Specifically, the legislation prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from acquiring third-party disaster data during emergency relief operations.
How Does the Disaster Data Protection Act HR 10894 Protect Resident Privacy?
The Disaster Data Protection Act HR 10894 ensures third-party crisis data remains confidential unless federal agents obtain a valid criminal warrant. In addition, Pettersen unveiled the Emergency Assistance Privacy Protection Act. That companion measure prevents the Federal Emergency Management Agency from sharing disaster survivors’ personally identifiable information with ICE officers.
How Do Emergency Evacuations Relate to the Lakewood Colorado Immigration Privacy Bill?
However, recent wildfire evacuations highlighted severe risks when vulnerable residents fear government data collection during emergencies. Therefore, Pettersen drafted the Lakewood Colorado immigration privacy bill after visiting disaster sites across Custer and Lake counties. Those visits followed the 2026 Willow and Aspen Acres Fires. burned over 100,000 acres and forced thousands from their homes.
Because fear of federal enforcement can delay life-saving evacuations, advocacy organizations strongly endorse these measures. For example, Alex Sánchez, president and CEO of Voces Unidas, voiced firm support alongside several local community groups:
- Casa de Paz and COLOR Latina
- Mi Familia Vota and Mi Casa Resource Center
- Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and CLLARO
Consequently, supporters argue these protections ensure all residents follow emergency safety orders without fearing surveillance.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
Related: Emergency Assistance Privacy Protection Act Seeks to Restrict Federal Data Sharing
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