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Immigrants hold hearings
Groups’ requests to testify before Senate committe went unanswered


August 30, 2006
By Mary Jane Carroll | Herald Staff Writer

Some 50 groups working with immigrants held "shadow hearings" Tuesday across Colorado, including a hearing in Durango, after their requests to participate in today's U.S. Senate Budget Committee field hearing in Aurora went unanswered.

Members from Los Compañeros Latino Resource Center and Fort Lewis's Hispanic program, El Centro de Muchos Colores, led a shadow hearing at Fort Lewis' Nobel Hall on Tuesday. The hearing presented the audience with data on immigrants, life stories and an opportunity to question panelists.

"If they are going to have a hearing, they need to hear both sides," said Eddie Soto, coordinator of Los Compañeros. "But, immigrants can't be there."

Today's hearing in Aurora was organized by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

"The hearing will focus on the budgetary impact of our current border policies on both the federal government and state governments," Allard said in a news release.

Two immigration-reform bills, one in the House and one in the Senate have passed Congress. The House bill includes harsher penalties for illegal immigration and no procedure for illegal immigrants to work toward citizenship. The Senate version has a guest-worker program that eventually could lead to citizenship.

"Right now the system we have doesn't work. That is the only part that both sides agree on," Soto said.

Immigration groups plan to lead a protest outside today's Senate Budget Committee hearing at the Aurora Municipal Center.

"It's important to hear our immigrants' stories. If we listen instead of shutting doors, we might be able to create a working policy," said El Centro de Muchos Colores Director, Shirena Trujillo Long.

Two immigrants from Mexico spoke at Durango's hearing.

Gerardo Xahuemititla has been in the country for four years. He attends Fort Lewis College, works at two part-time jobs and has a Latino radio program on KDUR.

"I feel like everyone deserves to fight for a life they deserve. What good would the American dream be if we didn't fight," he said.

Mary Jane Carroll is a Herald intern and can be reached at mcarroll@durangoherald.com.