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Illegals crackdown soughtReaction to pot bust; but should actions of few impact so many?Gene Davis, DDN Staff WriterMonday, August 31, 2009 | |
Following this month’s bust of 14,500 marijuana plants that allegedly were in part being grown by Mexican migrant workers, a Colorado Springs senator is calling on Gov. Bill Ritter and the General Assembly to take aggressive action on illegal immigration in Colorado, though immigrant rights’ groups say lawmakers shouldn’t blame entire communities for the actions of a few individuals.
Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, said on Friday that in lieu of the “growing role illegal immigration plays in expanding international drug cartels in the United States,” Ritter and fellow lawmakers should beef up on the Colorado State Patrol’s immigration unit. He added in a press release that the state should consider requesting federal stimulus funding to step up law enforcement against illegal immigration.
“The safety of our citizens ought to be the governor’s paramount concern and should take precedence in budget matters — even in a down economy,” said a statement from Schultheis. “It’s time to reprioritize.”
But Julien Ross, executive director of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, pointed to the recent state audit of Senate Bill 90 — legislation that requires law enforcement officers to notify U.S. Immigration when they have probable cause to believe that someone they have arrested is in an illegal immigrant — which found that a perpetrator’s immigration status has nothing to do with an inclination for criminal action. As a result, it would be misguided to call for increased state enforcement of federal immigration laws as a result of the recent drug bust because it would erode trust, not prevent crime.
“Research shows immigrants to be far less likely to commit crimes than native born citizens and to actually contribute to making neighborhoods safer,” said Ross in a statement. “Lawmakers concerned about the drug trade would be better served focusing on lessening the demand for drugs in their local district than scapegoating immigrants.”
Colorado “has a history of going easy on illegals” and is becoming known as a sanctuary state, countered Schultheis. He said in a press release that Ritter should support a bill he will again introduce next year to require Colorado employers to utilize the federal E-verify program.
Ritter’s office declined to comment.
Gone to pot
On Aug. 21, federal and local law enforcement officials seized approximately 14,500 live marijuana plants in the Pike National Forest in Jefferson County. The bust is believed to be the biggest outdoor marijuana growing operation ever caught by Colorado law enforcement.
As agents advanced on the grow site, an estimated seven to 10 people were seen running from the area. Their sleeping bags and food items were recovered at the site, and information developed during the investigation determined that Mexican migrant workers had been recruited from outside the state of Colorado to harvest the marijuana plants, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Two suspects associated with the marijuana grow location have been identified, but law enforcement agencies are not releasing any more information at this time, citing an ongoing investigation.
| Comments: |
| Robert Whitten @ 2009-08-31 09:19:24 | I guess one way to win the oar on drugs would be to Napalm all the forests, but first lets please stop and figure out what made Cannabis so dangerous in 1932 (was it?) after not being a problem for society for Thousands of years before Christianity began. Follow the $$$$ The plant is not evil. If everyone was allowed to grow it if they cared to, would we have this problem in the woods? Prohibition is good for making a few "pious" folk happy (who would prefer you not to dance as well), and creates a new economy of crooks and corrupt lawmakers.. |
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| AmericanPieHole @ 2009-08-31 09:27:06 | Is it or isn’t it legal to cross our border without being vetted by US? This issue has become so commingled with special interest groups that it is beyond sensible. To fight for the rights of these criminals while they are still in violation of the law is absurd. It is like parking in a space where there is a sign saying “No Parking” then arguing to the judge you have a right to park there while still being parked in the No Parking space. |
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| Brittancus @ 2009-08-31 10:49:16 | Even though I am a great believer in a Senators Kennedy's public option to Health care, I am adamantly--OPPOSED--to any path to citizenship for illegal immigrants he also endorsed. But alas Health care and illegal immigration are joined a the proverbial hip and must be separated. In 1985 immigration bill Sen. Kennedy assured the American people, that another AMNESTY would--NEVER--be enacted in future sessions of Congress. He was after all one of the principal authors of the Simpson/Mazzoli bill, in which he committed himself to all of the American public. Speed up a--POINTS SYSTEM--for top of the pinnacle highly skilled workers, but no more hosting millions of indigent foreign labor and families, who become public welfare charges.
Once again we will be confronting this major dilemma on immigration reform, mainly because over many administrations immigration enforcement was never carried out. Over these decades lax policies have caused a massive overload of foreigners, who compromised themselves by not following the law, but are not entirely to blame? The awful fact is that the 1986 legislation was under funded and engineered for the particular business sector, unions, church, specialized attorneys and radical minority organizations by certain politicians. Since than the costs have been magnified, parallel to the--TRILLIONS--spent on nation building wars. At least 20 million illegal immigrants now reside in America, and decades of neglect, has swollen the numbers that in future years will undoubtedly cause irreversible overpopulation as analyzed by the US Census Bureau?
Trying to deport so many people is a possibility and a very expensive proposition. But their is another avenue that could be used, with equal success and not costing anywhere near using a forced deportation? We must demand from our rogue lawmakers in Washington to introduce a mandated, funded E-Verify? We know it works well because Special interest groups have used their influence to derail it. In the courts they have resuscitated racial profiling, including that it was faulty in its operation. The cure is simple--plaintiffs should go to the local Social Security office for straightening out irregularities. Until now we didn't realize its power to perform and remove illegal immigrants from the work floor and therefore our government should make it available to every employer under the penalty of fines and prison. BEFORE ANY NEW WORKER IS HIRED, THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN AN E-VERIFICATION FORM WARNING THEM OF USING BOGUS ID AND A LEGAL FORM TO SIGN UNDER THE PENALTY OF PERJURY IN MAJOR FOREIGN LANGUAGES. EACH BUSINESS MUST BE MANDATED TO DISPLAY AN E-VERIFY NOTICE. THEIR SHOULD BE A REWARD TO WORKERS, WHO CORRECTLY REPORTS ILLEGAL LABOR ACTIVITY TO ICE.
Democratic leadership made a fatal error, as it had already been funded for months to come E-Verify. The public eye and anti-illegal immigration groups became instantly aware of its special use. An outcry to Washington caused a re-emergence of this utility and now is firmly placed as a workable tool. Further innovations and technical progress--MUST--be made available and reasonable appropriations to modify its accessibility for the most fundamental PC operative? As time goes by, as all new computer programs bugs and errors will be removed and new versions will appear. A few Eastern states have made it fully functioning, while rebel states as California--a Sanctuary illegal immigrant state--is defying its use. Through voluntary now, over time it could cause mass evacuation of illegal labor from the workplace as by "Attrition". Millions will surely give up as employers will live under a dark cloud of penalties and return slowly to their home country.
The 1986 (IRCA) immigration act is very potent and is currently under attack by unions, ACLU, US Chamber of Commerce, as is E-Verify, 287 G, the border fence and anything that smells of enforcement. Corporate entities--COMMAND--unparalleled cheap labor with no restriction, which has been honored by certain unethical politicians who do not represent the majority of the jobless public. Years of inactivity by unethical politicians caused the immigration mess in the first place. So the old adage stands its ground even today, “You made this bed, so now you have to sleep in it"? President Obama is going to try and insist on pushing through another immigration reform, but we cannot let this happen. He should build on the 1986 immigration reform, add amendments and stop the OVERPOPULATION of this country. Do the calculations yourselves of the trillions of dollars used--OVER THE YEARS--to cater to foreign national workers, their families in education, hospitals and the penal environment.
We must assure that all American workers are gainfully employed, not individuals who have no right to be in our country? It makes me sick to see veterans of Korea, Viet-Nam, the Gulf war walking the streets homeless, while illegal immigrants get gratification from employers and lawmakers. WE NO LONGER CAN SUPPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. OUR COUNTRY IS NEAR BANKRUPTCY. DEMAND E-VERIFY TO CHECK THE IMMIGRATION STATUS FOR EVERY US WORKER, BY CONTACTING YOUR LAWMAKER AT 202-224-3121. VOTERS SHOULD COMMAND NO MORE WEAKENING OF ANY LAWS INCLUDING 1986 (IRCA) IMMIGRATION CONTROL & REFORM ACT. JOIN NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH AND BE STUNNED HOW MILLIONS OF VOICES HAVE MADE AN INCREDULOUS DIFFERENCE.
PS: Illegal Immigrants will get full access to THE PEOPLES health care, if the Democrats pass a path to citizenship or better known as BLANKET AMNESTY |
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| to american pie hole @ 2009-08-31 14:35:37 | "We must assure that all American workers are gainfully employed" It makes me sick to see veterans of Korea, Viet-Nam, the Gulf war walking the streets homeless. Where did the Jobs go?What if it were illegal to outsource them. If a company hires illegal immigrants to work for less wages than an American will/ or can, put the stockholders in prison. that will put a stop to it. Our Country is near bankruptcy. Who has that money. It has been redistributed The rich are now richer. And they spend a lot of money keeping you scared, and their wealth safe. |
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| Delaware Bob @ 2009-08-31 19:42:20 | It is one thing after another with these ilegal aliens.
I for one, am sick and tired of these ILLEGAL ALIENS snubbing their nose at our immigration laws and the many other laws of this Country. If our Federal Government can not ENFORCE our immigration laws, and get these ILLEGAL ALIENS out of this Country, then let the States do it! One way or another, an end has to come to this illegal immigration, and not with AMNESTY! Amnesty will only encourage more ILLEGAL ALIENS to invade our Country and reward those who broke our laws and raped the American taxpayer in many ways...depressing our wages, taking our jobs, overwhelming our schools with their ILLEGAL ALIEN children, driving without a license or car insurance, all the crime from stolen identities to rape, drugs and everything else.
It's time for ZERO TOLERENCE with these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It's time for them get out of this Country and back in their own Country where they belong. When we get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIENS, we will get rid of all the problems that go with them. THAT IS A FACT!
May I suggest Colorado get a State Illegal Immigration Law like Oklahoma, Arizona, Utah, Mississippi, Georgia and a number of ther States.
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| Bill @ 2009-09-07 18:51:56 | I agree inf full, time for all of them out, look at the states negative cash flow, most states would be in the black with out the costs ran up by Illegal Immigrates in each state, especially the bankrupt and begging California!!!!! move them all out, no more tax dollars for any thing for them, end it now with E-Verify and any other laws needed to remove and keep them out, I'm not working, some Illegal alien got my job out there, enough! and they expect me to pay taxes to support them, what about my family, my kids, no concern by the government about them, bull shit remove the Illegal Aliens now. |
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