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The complexity of the immigration issue has created "legal confusion" in Colorado, because the local legislators have bills that sometimes overlap or contradict existing laws, said a caucus today Denver-immigrant.

According to the Colorado Coalition for the Rights of Immigrants (CIRC, in English), legislators should "try a dialogue" with representatives of 55 organizations that form part of the coalition that way learn about the needs and contributions of the immigrant community in this state. "


The most recent case is the Bill HB09-1049, driven by the Republican bloc in the local Legislature, which sought to nullify the possibility that an undocumented person is convicted of a misdemeanor to be that way in a state prison and thus avoid deportation.

Julie Gonzalez, spokesman of CIRC and now coordinator of the political coalition, considered that the law was "unnecessary" and opined that the measure would have created "for political reasons."


For González, "is if someone is subject to deportation by federal law." Therefore, he said, no need to question the state legislature for changes in that area.

"It is a pity that the time is spent during the session of the legislature to discuss these laws as politically motivated instead of talking about policies," said the spokesman.


The proponent of the project, Mike May, a Republican from Parker and chairman of the bench of his party, said he believed that the initiative was necessary because this would prevent certain criminal aliens "walking freely through the streets of Colorado."

But this Thursday when receiving the report on his tax proposal, May found that cost two million dollars a year to implement the measure, and that the result would be to incarcerate an average of 17 illegal immigrants found guilty of certain crimes to remain in U.S. (even in prison) instead of being deported.


Because the government of Colorado has a deficit of one billion dollars, and therefore there are no resources to implement the project HB09-1049, May requested the same on Thursday that the Judicial Committee of the state legislature voted against its proposal and the legislators did so.

To Julien Ross, executive director of CIRC, the failed project of May is an example of legislators deciding on complicated issues that affect all people in Colorado, but without the necessary information. "


"It is important that our legislators know that we can provide information to enable them make good decisions," said Ross.