Thread: Owens signs two immigration measures

Rocky Mountain News


URL: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/g ... 79,00.html
Owens signs two immigration measures
New State Patrol unit, employer checks mandated

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News
June 7, 2006

Gov. Bill Owens on Tuesday signed into law bills that will create an immigration unit in the Colorado State Patrol and require state contractors to sign up for an online federal program that checks a worker's immigration status.

Senate Bill 225, sponsored by Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, pays for the state trooper unit of 12 officers this year and 24 next year. They will receive training on human trafficking, the crime of sneaking an illegal immigrant into the country for the purposes of forced labor or prostitution.

The new unit, which will be formed this summer, will help state troopers respond to immigration cases and work with authorities from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said Lance Clem, public information officer for the Department of Public Safety. ICE will train the officers.

"This is going to be the front line . . . the local face on immigration law enforcement in Colorado," Clem said.

The Department of Public Safety will transfer officers into the new unit and fill the vacant positions, Clem said. Leaders emphasized that officers in the immigration unit will also handle traffic enforcement duties.

Owens said the new unit will play a "critical role" in enforcing laws against these crimes.

"There are few crimes more heinous than the smuggling and trafficking of human beings," he said.

Owens also signed House Bill 1343, sponsored by Rep. Bill Crane, R-Arvada.

That measure requires state contractors to verify the immigration status of workers and allows the state to cancel contracts with employers who are found to knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The law takes effect in August.

The two bills are the last of seven immigration measures passed by the state legislature.

Last week, Owens signed four immigration bills, including two related to SB 225 that make human smuggling, sneaking illegal immigrants across the border for money, and human trafficking state felonies.

On May 1, he signed into law a measure that requires police to report suspected illegal immigrants arrested for crimes other than domestic violence or minor traffic violations to immigration authorities. That law took effect that day.

Also Tuesday, former Denver Mayor Federico Peña outlined his position about efforts in Washington to fix the immigration system.

In a speech to the City Club, Peña said he supports increased security at the Mexican and Canadian borders, better enforcement of laws that punish employers who hire illegal immigrants, and a way for illegal immigrants who don't have criminal records to earn citizenship.

He said he also supports "biometric" identification cards on which immigrants would put their fingerprints or other genetic marker on the cards, making them less vulnerable to counterfeiting.

Peña said fences along the border "are not the answer" because almost half of the illegal immigrants in the U.S. entered the country legally through ports and then overstayed their visas.

Peña is the new head of pro-immigrant group Keep Colorado Safe, which was formed to oppose a ballot initiative that would deny most government services to illegal immigrants.

He called the measure "mean-spirited" and extremely expensive and complicated to implement.

Copyright 2006, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.

This article is encouraging to me. I have felt all along that it would be up to municipalities and states to deal with the problem. Our federal government has proven to be totally inept on this matter.

However, I have concern that the States and municipalites may find themselves powerless given the fact so many State rights have been seceeded.

However, I THINK THE FENCE Is necdessary! It sends a psychological message!

Peña said fences along the border "are not the answer" because almost half of the illegal immigrants in the U.S. entered the country legally through ports and then overstayed their visas

'Almost half', which means that the majority are coming over the border.

Peña is the new head of pro-immigrant group Keep Colorado Safe, which was formed to oppose a ballot initiative that would deny most government services to illegal immigrants.

He called the measure "mean-spirited" and extremely expensive and complicated to implement.

So what's 'mean-spirited' about obeying the law (or wanting laws to be obeyed)? It's not "expensive and complicated" to implement social services to illegals? Oh, pul-eeze.