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New immigration law gets quiet response
By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News
August 1, 2006

The first day of a new immigration law began quietly with no local reports of problems or requests for waivers from the strict ID requirements for applicants of government benefits.

Under the law, known as House Bill 1023, applicants for a wide range of benefits must show identification — a Colorado Driver's license, state-issued ID, Merchant Mariner card or American Indian tribal document) — and sign an affidavit attesting to legal immigration status. Other forms of identification, including a birth certificate, an unexpired foreign passport, a driver's license from 34 other jurisdictions, and various immigration documents, will be accepted until March 1.

Agency workers must check the applicant's immigration status on an online system. This process is required for new applicants and those who recertify (as often as once a year) for services.

The Colorado Department of Revenue opened a temporary office in the state Capitol annex in downtown Denver Tuesday morning to process waivers for people who receive government services but lack the proper ID. But the four employees at that office did not see any clients between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Department of Motor Vehicle offices in Denver and Aurora also did not get any requests for waivers as of 10:30, officials said.

Officials said they think people don't know yet about the new law.

"I think they're all of a sudden going to be told your benefits are going to be cut off. That's when we're going to see people panic and come to us," said Joan Vecchi, senior director of the Division of Motor Vehicles. "We're trying to help them before they get to that point."

In the meantime, the Department of Revenue issued a phone number with a recorded message that explains the ID requirements of HB 1023. That number is 303-205-8358. That message says people can access the Revenue website (www.revenue.state.co.us) to see a list of required ID.