Allard knows the difference between comprehensive immigration policy and invasion.

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Jun 27, 7:58 PM EDT

Colorado senators stake out opposite sides on immigration

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Colorado's senators staked out opposing sides in the national debate over immigration reform Tuesday.

While Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar joined Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., at an afternoon news conference to urge Congress to act on a Senate-passed immigration bill, the state's GOP Sen. Wayne Allard distributed letters to House and Senate leaders inviting them to hold field hearings on immigration in Colorado.

The Senate immigration bill, which Salazar supported, would increase border security, create a guest worker program for foreigners and offer possible citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.

Several House members oppose the bill and have said they want to hold hearings across the country.

Critics, including Salazar, have called the hearings a delay tactic. But Allard wrote that Colorado would be an excellent place for the hearings "due to its close proximity to the Southern border."

"Indeed there are an estimated 200,000 illegal immigrants living in the state with thousands more transiting through," he said.

Allard sent the letters to the Senate and House judiciary committee chairmen, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. His letter to Sensenbrenner was also signed by Colorado GOP Reps. Marilyn Musgrave and Bob Beauprez.

Salazar spokesman Drew Nannis said that while Allard's request for hearings in Colorado "may legitimize the desire of some in Congress to use these hearings for political gain" the majority of the Senate and possibly the House supports the Senate immigration bill.

"Unfortunately, a few in the leadership of the House GOP don't want comprehensive immigration reform, and America's border and homeland security will suffer for it."

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