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November 17, 2005

Lawmakers focus on migrants

By KYLE HENLEY THE GAZETTE

DENVER - A few Republican lawmakers heard one side of the immigration argument Wednesday as they prepare legislation to crack down on Colorado’s illegal immigrants.

Members of the Republican Study Committee of Colorado, an unofficial group of 18 conservative legislators, held a Capitol meeting where they heard from individuals and groups who blame illegal immigrants for everything from gang violence in Greeley to the spread of syphilis.

The meeting underscored how immigration issues are having a growing political impact.

The common thread in the presentations: Colorado lawmakers must stem the flow of undocumented workers and ensure they don’t get government services.

“Our country has 10 to 12 million illegal aliens,� said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based group pushing for increased enforcement of immigration laws. “Everyone agrees this is a bad thing. There is no way for the state to punt on this and avoid taking a position.�

Dick Lamm, a former threeterm Colorado governor and a Democrat, gave the largely Republican gathering a dash of bipartisan flavor.

“I think this is a Colorado issue that everybody should address,� said Lamm, who blamed the business community for providing “endless benefits and job opportunities for people who are not legally in this country.�

Lamm said Social Security and identification cards should be made harder to counterfeit. Undocumented workers sometimes use fake documents to obtain jobs.

Rosemary Jenks of Numbers USA, a Virginia group that tracks immigration data, recommended cracking down on businesses that employ illegal immigrants.

“Unless we do that, we are not serious about enforcing the laws,� she said. “Once we deny jobs, I think you will see the flow dramatically decrease.�

The construction, agriculture, restaurant and tourism industries depend somewhat on illegal immigrants for workers. Those on the other side of the debate say most of the jobs taken by illegal immigrants are available because American citizens don’t want them.

Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, a founder of the Republican group, went with other lawmakers in October to patrol the Mexican border with the Minutemen, a group of civilians trying to stop Mexican nationals from entering the United States.

Last year, he carried a bill that would have banned state government from providing services to illegal immigrants. It failed, but Schultheis has said he plans to reintroduce it when the General Assembly convenes again in January. A citizens group is trying to put a similar measure on the statewide ballot in 2006.

Rep. Jim Welker, R-Loveland, vowed that any new legislation would be aimed at making “it hard for illegals to live in Colorado.�

Rep. Fran Coleman, D-Denver, said the Republican committee did not take other views into account, such as amnesty for illegal immigrants.

“What we heard here was a disservice to good public policy,� Coleman said.