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Politics : ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THE FIGHT TO KEEP OUR DEMOCRACY -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim S who wrote (1331)	11/25/2006 5:20:36 PM
From: Tadsamillionaire	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 3197

Illegal-immigration issue roils Hot topic during election season hasn't disappeared November 25, 2006 Earlier this year, the illegal-immigration debate seemed as if it would go on forever. Demonstrations brought thousands to the streets. Activists mounted a ballot campaign. Lawmakers passed tough laws. Candidates tried to ride the issue to victory. Lately, the debate has quieted. But the people who brought you the crowds and the laws and the political ads are still hard at work. Advocacy groups on both sides of the issue continue to work on projects and plan to push for new laws in the coming legislative session. Still, few predict a repeat of this year's political turmoil. "You may see a few fireworks in the regular (legislative) session," said John Straayer, a political-science professor at Colorado State University. "There may be a handful who decide to use it as an opportunity to fan the fires. "But I don't think it's going to turn into a big explosive issue." In the fall, some Republican campaigns hammered away at illegal immigration, hoping to harness the momentum and maintain power. That didn't happen. "It did not become an issue that could surpass the importance of other issues like Iraq and concerns about the direction of the country," said Denver pollster Lori Weigel. Reduced passions showed in the vote tallies on the two immigration-related ballot measures. Referendum H, which denies a state tax credit to employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, squeaked by with 50.8 percent of the vote. And Referendum K, which directs the attorney general to sue the federal government to demand enforcement of immigration laws, passed with 56 percent of the vote. Sponsors of both measures attributed the lukewarm reception, in part, to the fact that people were satisfied with the 17 anti-illegal-immigration state laws passed since the spring. Among those laws, two have generated complaints from immigrant advocates and non-immigrant groups. The centerpiece bill, HB 1023, bars adult illegal immigrants from receiving most state-funded benefits and installs a three- step identification-verification process for those who are eligible to obtain services. Some legal residents have reported not being able to get a driver's license or state identification without navigating a sea of red tape. Some Hispanic residents say SB 90, which directs law enforcement to notify immigration officials in most cases when they arrest suspected illegal immigrants, has caused them to be unfairly targeted by police. Immigrants-rights groups plan to push lawmakers to address these problems and to urge Congress to enact immigration reform. As part of that effort, a group formerly known as the Colorado Grassroots Movement for Immigrant Justice hired its first full-time staffer last month. Julien Ross, 31, who developed an immigrant workers rights program in Austin, Texas, is the new statewide coordinator for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. The coalition is directed by representatives of 12 groups, including the Colorado Catholic Conference, Service Employees International Union Local 105, and the American Friends Service Committee. Ross said he will build on momentum created by the huge spring marches, work with other advocacy groups across the state and reach out to supporters outside immigrant circles. Ross said Colorado is seen as "fairly extreme" in its recent approach to the issue. "I'm hopeful that Colorado is going to trend back to a more pro-immigrant environment that really embraces immigrants and the contributions they make to our culture and our communities," he said. Meanwhile, a group of leaders in the anti-illegal-immigration movement have launched their own campaign. William and Jan Herron, Mike McGarry, Fred Elbel and Stan Weekes are among those who are raising money to pay the legal expenses of Cory Voorhis, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Authorities are investigating whether Voorhis leaked confidential information to the Bob Beauprez gubernatorial campaign, which was used to attack rival Bill Ritter's plea bargains for illegal immigrants. Beauprez, who lost to the ex-Denver district attorney, defended the source of the information, calling him a heroic whistle-blower. The Morrison agent didn't return a call for comment. Elbel, co-chair of Defend Colorado Now, would not say how much the group has raised. Defend Colorado Now sponsored a proposal, which was disqualified from the ballot by the state Supreme Court, to deny government services to illegal immigrants. rockymountainnews.com