Thread: Tensions build after Weld's social services threaten to take

Is the race card the only argument the opposition can come up with?

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Tensions build after Weld's social services threaten to take action against false documention

Vanessa Delgado, (Bio) vdelgado@greeleytribune.com
January 29, 2007

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Tensions are building between Latino community leaders and Weld County Social Services after a sign placed in the front of the department's building threatens to take action against those who provide false documentation.

Residents say the sign is discriminatory and that the county doesn't have jurisdiction to post the sign without a statue code, which allows people to verify such enforcement is legal.

The county says it posted the sign because of the high number of false documents county workers were given. After a special session last August, the Colorado Legislature mandated the county to verify the documents of those receiving government aid.

"If they (county workers) are given information that they believe is false, they will report that to law enforcement," said Bruce Barker, Weld County attorney. "The question is do you let it go and not report it or do you go ahead and report the crime when it is happening. And the choice is to go ahead and report it."

Allowing undocumented people to receive government aide was always illegal, but before the special session, agencies were not required to verify and stamp each document provided to show proof of citizenship. This also applies to people who are reapplying for the services he or she was already receiving prior to state reforms.

The difference is that Weld County is one the few counties in Colorado taking the extra step to report people who provide false documentation. Denver and Larimer county officials say when they are provided with information they believe is false their agencies deny the person for aid. The person can then petition to appeal that decision, if he or she is in fact here legally.

"I think the sign is in poor taste and we feel the Latino community has been under attack," said Priscilla Falcon, a Chicano studies teacher at the University of Northern Colorado and an activist in the Latino community. "Then with the recent ICE raids, to put signs up like that is just offensive."

Falcon said she heard about the sign from people at the Al Frente de Lucha Center, 919 A St. She said people were scared to go in because they thought they would be deported.

"The times of signs are over," Falcon said. "The climate here in Greeley is backwards."

After the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at the Swift & Co. meat packing plant in Greeley, several families were left unable to support themselves. In turn centers like the Al Frente stepped in to help, Falcon said. Since many of those families have children who are here legally they can still receive aid for their children but are scared to enter government agencies for fear of deportation.

Falcon said if the department is going to post a sign claiming to take action, then there needs to be a statue code. She also questioned what authority workers have in verifying that information. Barker refused to comment when asked what training county employees received to verify documentation submitted by clients.

John Kruse with Weld County Social Services in Greeley said the matter was not meant to become a racial issue.

"To a certain extent it's not that it's negative, it's just that people are fearful to come in," Kruse said. "Our message is do not provide false documentation."

Social service agencies in Weld are in the process of keeping track of the people who provided false documentation and when they meet with state auditors will discuss what options they have in pursuing that information. Immigration reforms last year allocated four state auditors to make sure employers and government agencies were complying with laws passed.

"We want to do what's right and protect the identities of people and keep their cases confidential," Kruse said. "It's a tough situation to be in."

Since the raid in December, social services and child welfare saw about 20 new families who were looking to receive aide, Kruse said. That number isn't particularly high and some of it may have to do with the sign the agency posted, Kruse said. Also, many of the families affected by the raid were already clients, he added.

"We were torn between getting caught in the middle," Kruse said. "Do we report them or do we get in trouble for not reporting them."

Families who go in looking for aide who are illegal, but do not submit false documentation, are referred to the United Way or community non-profit agencies, Kruse said.

"To a certain extent it's not that it's negative, it's just that people are fearful to come in," Kruse said. "Our message is do not provide false documentation."

Their arrogance knows no bounds. Every social agency in the country needs these types of signs as well as employers and apt. complexes.

Falcon said if the department is going to post a sign claiming to take action, then there needs to be a statue code. She also questioned what authority workers have in verifying that information.

Falcon they have ever right to report false information ..SO GET OVER IT

here ya go, email and phone numbers,

have at it

Priscilla Falcon Employee Position Title, Employee Department: Professor Hispanic Studies, Sch Modrn Lang Cultrl Stdies Offc
Office Address: School of Modern Languages
Candelaria 0190
Campus Box 111
Greeley, CO 80639

Office Telephone: 970 3512424
E-mail: priscilla.falcon@unco.edu (Preferred)

I guess this means the laws of our country are in poor taste right? The arguments these people give to get their way are getting very transparent, total bull-- well you know the rest of the story!

i just called and left a message and said dont feel too bad if you get lots more phone calls and lots of emails telling you that you have no idea waht your talking about cuz this is america and we live by america laws. not mexican laws, not guatamala laws or any other country, and i said if you were born here your first allegiance is to the US. if you are a citizen and came from another country, your new allegiance is to the US. if you dont like it, you can do like other people are doing, go back home to the country you came from cuz you WONT BE MISSED

Falcon said she heard about the sign from people at the Al Frente de Lucha Center, 919 A St. She said people were scared to go in because they thought they would be deported.

She is admitting that illegals are going there looking to gain benefits .....for their children....right.

Residents say the sign is discriminatory and that the county doesn't have jurisdiction to post the sign without a statue code, which allows people to verify such enforcement is legal.

How is the sign discriminatory? What they're saying is there should be no laws.

The should be deported and put in jail if they provided fraudulent id for government benefits.



She thinks the signs are offensive!! Well I think people breaking into this country and stealing our jobs, money, killing , drug pushing, drunk driving and on an on IS OFFENSIVE!!!!


If you are AMERICAN, then you should be offended by foreigners doing this to our country!!