AN ACTION PLAN AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN COLORADO

Representative Josh Penry

Summer 2006

No Welfare or other Government Subsidies for Illegal Residents.  America is a nation of laws, and the taxpayers should never be asked to subsidize the non-emergency services for people who break those laws.  That’s why I strongly support the effort to send to the voters a proposal that would cut off and any all non-emergency government subsidies to illegal immigrants.  A similar measure passed in Arizona in 2004 with broad support from every political, racial and economic constituency in that State.  I believe the voters of Colorado would make the same choice.  At the end of the day, we should make clear that illegal residents will not get a free lunch on the back of taxpayers in Colorado.  Many Coloradans are suffering under the strain of increased health care, gasoline, utility and college tuition costs.  If government services are going to be expanded, they should be expanded to benefit the hard working citizens who live and work and play by the rules every day.

Proof of Citizenship to Vote.  Today, Colorado’s voter registration requirements are less than rigorous when it comes to ensuring that only citizens vote.  Voting is a sacred right – one that centuries of Americans have fought and died for.  That process should be held to the highest standards; its sanctity vigorously protected.  That’s why I believe that Colorado’s drivers license system should be restructured so that there is clear demarcation either on the card externally or within the data strip validating a person’s citizenship and voting rights.  That information, in turn, would be readily accessible to elections officials during both voter registration and on election day.

Employment of Illegal Immigrants.  The federal government has a developed a tool to help employers identify the legal status of workers.  The program, called the Federal Basic Employment Pilot Program, is currently a voluntary tool.  I believe that Colorado law should be changed to require employers to apply for participation in the program. Moreover, penalties against employers who knowingly higher illegal residents should be increased.

Expand Colorado State Patrol Immigration Task Force.  In 2006, the Colorado General Assembly created a special division of the Colorado State Patrol to assist in cracking down on illegal immigration in Colorado.  This law enforcement unit should be expanded, and so should its mission -- to zero in the Interstate corridors that host the shipment of between 70 and 90% of all the Methamphetamine into Colorado via Mexico.  Moreover, the State Patrol should develop a concrete and legally binding plan regarding referrals, imprisonment, and deportation of illegal immigrants detained during the commission of another crime.  Among many important other reasons, this agreement will put Colorado in stronger standing to draw down grants from the federal government. 

Illegal Immigration a Felony Aggravating Factor.  Colorado should have zero tolerance for individuals who break our immigration laws and then commit additional offenses once in our State.  That is why I believe illegal immigration status should be an aggravating offense in Colorado, giving prosecutors a discretionary felony tool to crack down on illegal immigration.