http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/s ... 92,00.html

Activists urge governor to crack down on illegals
By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News
October 7, 2005

Activists delivered petitions to Gov. Bill Owens' office Thursday, demanding that he declare a state of emergency and use sports arenas and former military bases as overflow detention centers for illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.

The petitions also ask Owens to issue an executive order reversing any local sanctuary policies that favor illegal immigrants.

They also urged the governor to impose financial sanctions on any state employees who conduct official business in any language other than English.

Terry Graham, a Boulder County resident who drafted the petition, said several activists seeking a moratorium on immigration had been able to collect 160 signatures since Sept. 1.

"Many of us would have hoped that Governor Owens would have acted on this issue," she said. "He hasn't. He has been MIA (missing in action) on this issue."

A spokesman for Owens said the governor has not had time yet to review the petitions. Owens had several public appearances Thursday morning.

Spokesman Mark Salley said Owens has forwarded the documents to his legal counsel "to look at what he is being asked to do and to find out what authority he has to do the things he is being asked to do."

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_3093928

Activists demand Gov. Owens help stop illegal immigrants
By Jim Hughes
Denver Post Staff Writer

A group of immigration activists wants Gov. Bill Owens to declare a state of emergency and develop a plan that includes sending illegal immigrants to "overflow holding areas" such as Coors Field and the former Lowry Air Force Base to await deportation.

Saying that undocumented workers in Colorado are making every problem in the state worse, from traffic congestion and air pollution to crime and state budget shortfalls, the activists are calling on Owens to build on the example set by the governors of Arizona and New Mexico, who issued emergency declarations over immigration concerns in August.

"This is just the beginning of a citizens' grassroots effort to make the governor act on illegal immigration," said Terry Graham, a Boulder activist who ran the petition drive. She said she delivered the petition, signed by about 150 people, to Owens' office Thursday morning.

"They don't belong here," Graham said of the state's undocumented workers. "We can't continue to have them commit even more crimes. We are asking Gov. Owens to protect and serve his constituents, and that's Colorado citizens."

Owens "has seen the petition and he has forwarded it to his legal counsel asking for an opinion as to whether or not the governor has the ability to do the things they're asking for in the petition," said spokesman Mark Salley.

According to the petition, the activists want Owens to do away with local "sanctuary" policies for illegal immigrants across the state. They also want him to impose "financial and other personnel sanctions" against anyone conducting state business in languages other than English, according to the petition.
Lisa Duran, executive director of the membership-based immigrant advocacy group Rights For All People, called the petition "abhorrent and ridiculous."

She accused Graham of launching an attack on "hardworking mothers and fathers for putting food in their children's mouths."

Duran said she was disappointed by Owens' response.

"This is hate speech," she said. "We need the governor to speak out against this kind of extreme, fringe hate speech."

In New Mexico and Arizona, the emergency declarations opened up funding for law enforcement personnel and equipment in those border states. A group of three Republican state lawmakers spent this week touring the area, saying they will return to pursue immigration legislation at the Colorado state Capitol this winter.

Staff writer Jim Hughes can be reached at 303-820-1244 or jhughes@denverpost.com.