http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 40316/1014
This is a printer friendly version of an article from coloradoan.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.


Back
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article published Sep 4, 2006
Civil, human rights violated with approach
Laura Mendoza

Fuerza Latina is a nonprofit immigrant's rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for immigrants in our community through community education, information and organizing. We provide education and information to native-born members of the community as well as immigrants, and inform people of changes in laws and policies that will affect them.

Recently, it came to our attention that many immigrants were being arrested for minor traffic infractions and they were then turned over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, for deportation.

We met with our local police chief and Larimer County sheriff to determine what their criteria were for making a custodial arrest and sending a person to ICE.

Sheriff Jim Alderden told us that anyone without proof of legal immigration status would be sent to ICE and that they would begin arresting anyone driving without a Colorado driver's license.

We specifically asked if that included grandmothers going to the store or parents taking their children to school and were told it did. We then continued to receive reports not only of arrests for minor infractions, in situations where a native-born or Caucasian person would not be arrested, but also of other law enforcement misconduct.

The people affected by this are real people with real families who have suffered real consequences. They leave behind spouses, children, homes, jobs and businesses. Jose was deported after being stopped for expired license plates. Carlos, who lived eight of his 19 years here and just graduated from high school, was sent to ICE when he forgot to pay a ticket for having his dog off a leash. Luis was arrested for "suspected immigration violations" when a passenger in a car. Rosa was arrested for no Colorado driver's license and asked questions about how many people lived in her home and where they worked. Fernando was arrested because his rear license plate light was out. Benjamin was stopped because his license plates "were about to expire." He was not arrested as he had a Colorado driver's license. Neither was he given the officer's name or badge number as state anti-profiling law requires when one is stopped and not ticketed or arrested.

Many of the immigrants stopped have had questions asked of them that were irrelevant to the arrest and without being advised of their constitutional rights. They have had documents unlawfully confiscated and had their vehicles and persons searched. Some have been deported without a chance to go to court on the original charges, leaving them with default judgments and warrants for their arrest which not only denies them their due process right to their day in court but may prevent them from legally immigrating in the future. Laws are not being enforced equally as often immigrants are arrested in situations where others would only be ticketed. We believe that many have been stopped because of their appearance, in violation of state anti-profiling laws. Others have been intimidated and harassed.

Time spent by local law enforcement investigating immigration status is time not spent pursuing dangerous criminals. The safety of the entire community is jeopardized. In addition, when we allow the erosion of the rights of one group of people, the rights of all are at risk.

As an organization, when we see injustice and violations of constitutional, civil and human rights we will speak out. We will inform the community of changes that affect them and assure that they are advised of their rights. We will continue to struggle to make our community one of tolerance where all people, regardless of race, national origin or immigration status, are treated with respect and dignity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------