http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3381994

Heated immigration debate yields no simple solutions
By Marsha Austin
Denver Post Staff Writer

More than 200 people gave up their Saturday night to take part in a politically charged debate on immigration, proving the issue once again to be divisive and without easy answers.

Colorado Republican Gov. Bill Owens headlined a panel of top policymakers, including Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican and critic of illegal immigration.

Audience members cheered, jeered, booed and applauded as elected officials shared their opinions on how Colorado and the U.S. might better handle the illegal immigrants who pour across borders each year.

Least contentious was the issue of border control, with Democrats and Republicans agreeing more zealous monitoring is needed.

"Do borders even matter any more?" asked Tancredo. "Are they just lines in the sand?"

Discussion of illegal workers - whether they should be deported, given the opportunity for citizenship or granted guest-worker status - was heated.

"It's a direct challenge to the moral, social and cultural fiber of this nation and this state," said state Democratic Rep. Terrance Carroll of Denver, an attorney and preacher.

Owens outlined again a plan he first publicly endorsed in December to allow some noncitizens to reside and work in Colorado.

The proposal would return the millions of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally to their native countries, then require them to pass a background check and prove they have work waiting for them in the U.S. before issuing them a visa to return.

Such a program would allow foreign workers to take jobs no American wants, Owens said.

"I don't know how we could get the peach crop in in Colorado without people from other countries," Owens said.

But it would ensure workers paid taxes to support education and health care, he said.

Tancredo disagreed, saying allowing companies to employ noncitizens creates a "magnet that drags everybody in."

Former Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm said, "I know of no country that is happy with its guest-worker program. It always comes to this - you're good enough to come to work but not good enough to stay."

Hickenlooper pleaded for what he called "smart reform," which includes better border controls to prevent schools and other public programs from being overwhelmed. But it also would respect America's long history as a nation of immigrants.

He spoke of earlier waves of immigrants, such as the Irish, Germans and Italians.

"I ask looking back now, which one of these groups could we have done without?"

The event, held at the University of Denver, was sponsored by 9News.

Staff writer Marsha Austin can be reached at 303-820-1242 or maustin@denverpost.com.