http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/g ... %2C00.html

Lawmaker demands apology
Wiens says remark reflects Mexico's contempt for laws

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News
May 6, 2006

The political storm over illegal immigration grew Friday when a Colorado lawmaker demanded an apology from a Mexican official for expressing concerns that a new immigration law would lead to racial profiling.

State Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, sent a blistering letter by fax and mail Friday afternoon to Juan Marcos Gutierrez, Denver's consul general of Mexico. Minutes later, Wiens' staffers notified the media.

Wiens blasted Gutierrez for comments that "insinuated that honest, law-abiding citizens and employees of our state and local governments here in Colorado would put personal agendas above the rule of law."

He also wrote that the Mexican official's statements "show a continuation of the contempt your government has for the laws of Colorado and the United States."

Wiens sponsored the bill, signed into law Monday by Gov. Bill Owens, that requires law enforcement officers to notify immigration officials if they arrest a suspected illegal immigrant of crimes other than minor traffic violations and domestic violence offenses.

It also prohibits local governments from enacting "sanctuary" policies that bar police from turning over illegal immigrants to immigration officials.

Gutierrez said he has received numerous calls questioning the impact of the law. He said he worries that Mexicans, regardless of their immigration status, could be negatively affected because of the broadness of the law.

He did not respond to several requests for comment Friday.

Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, said he expressed concerns about racial profiling when the bill was debated in committee. While changes made before the bill was passed have lessened his worries, Carroll said Gutierrez's comments are reasonable.

Carroll said Wiens' angry letter fuels an already volatile environment around the illegal immigration issue.

"What's sad is it's become a proxy race debate," Carroll said. "It's become so emotionally charged that people cannot engage in this debate in a reasonable manner without resorting to . . . attacks that are based on demagoguery and pandering."

kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2361