Thread: CO. Bill to Eliminate Immigration Policy Conflicts Heads for Hickenlooper's Desk

Bill to Eliminate Immigration Policy Conflicts Heads for Hickenlooper's Desk Special to the Post | 4/9/13

Yesterday, April 8, the Colorado Senate voted to eliminate inefficient and conflicting immigration policies that drain the resources of local governments. The bill sponsored by Senators Aguilar (D-Denver) and Carroll (D-Aurora) now requires Governor Hickenlooper’s signature to become law. In 2006, Colorado adopted Colorado Statute 29-29 (also called SB 90) requiring peace officers and sheriffs to judge whether or not a person is a documented citizen. Then, without the ability to verify their judgment, they must report people who they think lack citizenship documents. Yesterday, the Colorado Senate voted to repeal this law, which conflicted with the federal Secure Communities policy adopted in 2012. Secure Communities does what Colorado Statute 29-29 does, but in an objective way. It targets criminals who are arrested for a criminal offense rather than Coloradans who are stopped for low-level infractions like jaywalking or improperly using a turn signal. Under Secure Communities, the FBI gives the fingerprints of everyone who is arrested for a criminal offense to the Department of Homeland Security. By forwarding on the fingerprints of all offenders, the FBI does not have to use subjective criteria about whether or not a person is a documented citizen. Estimates say that local governments in Colorado pour $13 million into federal immigration enforcement because of Colorado Statute 29-29. That equates to putting an additional 217 peace officers or sheriffs on our streets. HB 13-1258 is backed by County Sheriffs of Colorado, Colorado Association of Chiefs and Police, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, and the Colorado Municipal League. http://www.pagosadailypost.com/news/22971/Bill_ to_Eliminate_Immigration_Policy_Conflicts_Heads_fo r_Hickenlooper's_Desk/