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9NEWS on ASSIGNMENT: Immigration -- Bordering on Reform
written by: Paola Farer Web Producer
Created: 1/12/2006 11:07 PM MST - Updated: 1/21/2006 12:28 PM MST


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For years, the issue of immigration was little more than a murmur. But now, many people are clamoring for change.

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Immigration: Bordering on Reform -- Part I
Immigration: Bordering on Reform -- Part II
Immigration: Bordering on Reform - Part III
Immigration: Bordering on Reform -- Part IV

click here to access above parts in streaming video:
http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGN ... 89c01ca7bf

Americans are increasingly saying we've come to a fork in the road -- a time to rethink how we define ourselves as a nation.

To advance the immigration debate, 9NEWS gathered together activists and politicians representing a wide range of views on this subject. We have streamed the entire two-hour town meeting held Saturday, Jan. 7 at the University of Denver's Gates Concert Hall.

Our panelists: Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Gov. Bill Owens, Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, and former Colorado governor and current head of DU's Center for Public Policy and Contemporary Issues, Dick Lamm.

Invitations were also extended to Democrats Rep. Dianna DeGette, Rep. Tom Udall and Sen. Ken Salazar, but they declined. Sen. Salazar is co-sponsoring one of two immigration reform bills going before Congress this year. No other Republican legislators were invited.

There are several new immigration policies that will be debated at the state Capitol this session.

Republicans will offer several bills to crack down on illegal immigration, including a plan to prohibit state and local governments from employing illegal immigrants and train police to identify and detain them if they are stopped for other infractions.

Democrats said it would be dangerous to make local authorities responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws because of the complexity, with dozens of different immigrant visas

Another proposal would have public schools ask students when they register if they are legal U.S. citizens.

Gov. Bill Owens addressed the impasse on how to end illegal immigration in his State of the State speech. He said he supported tougher border controls and holding employers who hire illegal immigrants accountable. And he advocates separating illegal immigrants into two groups - those who want to stay, and those who simply want to work.

But Owens said, "the real heavy lifting must be done at our nation's Capitol."

Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo, of Littleton, has pushed hard to keep immigration on the national agenda and has even floated the possibility of a presidential bid to put the issue under the spotlight.

This program will re-air Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m. on 9News. (Denver, Colorado)