Posted on 01/29/2007 8:02:58 AM PST by NorCoGOP
Tensions are building between Latino community leaders and Weld County Social Services after a sign placed in the front the department's building threatens to take action against those who provide false documentation.
Residents say the sign is discriminatory and that the county doesn't have jurisdiction to post the sign without a statue code, which allows people to verify such enforcement is legal.
The county says it posted the sign because of the high number of false documents county workers were given. After a special session last August, the Colorado Legislature mandated the county to verify the documents of those receiving government aid.
"If they (county workers) are given information that they believe is false, they will report that to law enforcement," said Bruce Barker, Weld County attorney. "The question is do you let it go and not report it or do you go ahead and report the crime when it is happening. And the choice is to go ahead and report it."
Allowing undocumented people to receive government aide was always illegal, but before the special session, agencies were not required to verify and stamp each document provided to show proof of citizenship. This also applies to people who are reapplying for the services he or she was already receiving prior to state reforms.
The difference is that Weld County is one the few counties in Colorado taking the extra step to report people who provide false documentation. Denver and Larimer county officials say when they are provided with information they believe is false their agencies deny the person for aid. The person can then petition to appeal that decision, if he or she is in fact here legally.
"I think the sign is in poor taste and we feel the Latino community has been under attack," said Priscilla Falcon, a Chicano studies teacher at the University of Northern Colorado and an activist in the Latino community. "Then with the recent ICE raids, to put signs up like that is just offensive."
Falcon said she heard about the sign from people at the Al Frente de Lucha Center, 919 A St. She said people were scared to go in because they thought they would be deported.
"The times of signs are over," Falcon said. "The climate here in Greeley is backwards."
After the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at the Swift & Co. meat packing plant in Greeley, several families were left unable to support themselves. In turn centers like the Al Frente stepped in to help, Falcon said. Since many of those families have children who are here legally they can still receive aid for their children but are scared to enter government agencies for fear of deportation.
Falcon said if the department is going to post a sign claiming to take action, then there needs to be a statue code. She also questioned what authority workers have in verifying that information. Barker refused to comment when asked what training county employees received to verify documentation submitted by clients.
John Kruse with Weld County Social Services in Greeley said the matter was not meant to become a racial issue.
"To a certain extent it's not that it's negative, it's just that people are fearful to come in," Kruse said. "Our message is do not provide false documentation."
Social service agencies in Weld are in the process of keeping track of the people who provided false documentation and when they meet with state auditors will discuss what options they have in pursuing that information. Immigration reforms last year allocated four state auditors to make sure employers and government agencies were complying with laws passed.
"We want to do what's right and protect the identities of people and keep their cases confidential," Kruse said. "It's a tough situation to be in."
Since the raid in December, social services and child welfare saw about 20 new families who were looking to receive aide, Kruse said. That number isn't particularly high and some of it may have to do with the sign the agency posted, Kruse said. Also, many of the families affected by the raid were already clients, he added.
"We were torn between getting caught in the middle," Kruse said. "Do we report them or do we get in trouble for not reporting them."
Families who go in looking for aide who are illegal, but do not submit false documentation, are referred to the United Way or community non-profit agencies, Kruse said.
and we're "backwards" for actually warning illegals before they come in? I guess otherwise, we'd be accused of "entrapment"
Don't rapists, murderers and other criminals say the same thing?
When is this madness going to end??????????
It will not end till the illegal criminal invaders are removed from the nation.
Therefore, it is NOT discriminatory, they are not being turned in based on their race or nationality. Anyone submitting false documents to a Govt. agency for the purpose of receiving benefits is guilty of fraud and should be prosecuted.
I fear we are entering a Dark Age.
Who are these "Residents" who "say the sign is discriminatory"? Are they legal residents? And, "She said people were scared to go in because they thought they would be deported." If they are here illegally, and using forged documents, well then? What the Falcon woman seems to be saying is that Weld County has no right to require people applying for welfare to use legitimate documents, and that rejecting forged documents is discriminatory. What a load of BS. I guess she would prefer that they don't warn them, and just arrest them on the spot. Sounds like Weld County has its act together, and someone at that newspaper ought to call out the complainers for their hypocrisy.
Translation: theft of tax payor supported services and tax dollars...
What happens to most "Americans" who provide false documentation, or file a false document?
Services are discontinued in the very least, and potentially we would be prosecuted.
So these people believe they are "above" the law, eh?
They want the statute, then, here, allow me:
CRS 24-76.5-103. Verification of lawful presence - exceptions - reporting.
18-8-503. Perjury in the second degree.
Illegals don't file 'em, so that problem never comes up for them.
Situations like this seems to always come to my mind about the illegals getting ripped off by their own kind. Example:
Illegals go to Priscilla Falcon to do something for them and she charges them money for her time, say and do outrageous comments to get in the paper so that she can earn her money. Then say to the illegals that she did all she could do but for more money they could go to Washington and lobby and then maybe that would help or get some big money pockets and bleeding hearts in there to help them and there you have it.
What's even more wild is that people listen to this crap.
ping
But they want the government to pay for their illegal lifestyle.
Wonder if the liquor stores have a problem refusing fake ID's??
This article CAN'T be true since we are told over and over that illegals do not use government social services.
"we feel the Latino community has been under attack"
Here We go again! We're not talking about Latinos or Hispanics. We're talking about *ILLEGALS*, wherever they may be from.
The repubs are crazy if they think ANY of these people will vote for them.
just doing the lying and cheating Americans are unwilling to do?
If I don't my driver's license - I'm screwed.
If I can't show insurance at the doc's office, screwed.
Miss my income tax or property tax installment payments -- screwed. All of my "papers" must be in order, OR ELSE....
Why should others be treated any differently??????????????
Hello?
Bttt!
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