Posted on 09/13/2010 8:25:03 AM PDT by MissTed
It was, of course, inevitable that a gubernatorial race featuring Tom Tancredo would reinvigorate the debate over illegal immigration in Colorado.
But the former-congressman- turned-minor-party-candidate is wrong to suggest that Mayor John Hickenlooper has presided over a so-called sanctuary city.
Last week, Tancredo told The Denver Post's Christopher N. Osher that the mayor was so lacking when it came to dealing with illegal immigration enforcement that Hickenlooper was unfit for office.
The Republicans' hapless Dan Maes chimed in that he also thought Hickenlooper's immigration policies disqualified him for office — although Maes began his campaign supporting citizenship for illegals and only later became a hard-liner.
We hope Coloradans recognize what it is that Tancredo is up to. Denver's no sanctuary city. But saying it is gives Tancredo a powerful political tool — and talk radio hosts plenty to chatter about.
By suggesting that all illegal immigrants must do to escape deportation is cross into Denver city limits, Tancredo is saying that as governor, Hickenlooper would open Colorado's borders to all comers.
Tancredo's attack is meant to play on legitimate fears of criminals and anger at wasted tax dollars and the federal government's failure to secure the border.
The one-time presidential candidate who ran to highlight the problem of illegal immigration would do better to keep his criticism focused on the federal government's protracted failure to deal with illegal immigration.
Yes, Denver certainly struggles with the strain of illegal immigration, as do many Western cities. But Denver's policies are by no means out of the mainstream.
There is nothing about the way Denver operates that makes it especially inviting to illegal immigrants in terms of shielding them from the law.
Denver is no San Francisco, where a debate rages about whether police should even report juvenile illegal immigrants accused of felonies. That city won't allow any public money be spent for immigration efforts.
By contrast, Denver has been a leader in an effort to join the Secure Communities program, which requires jailers to compare fingerprints of those booked into the facility against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement database to identify illegal immigrants.
Early last month, the Denver City Council easily passed an ordinance that requires construction contractors seeking to work for the city to verify the immigration status of their employees.
The requirement passed by a 9-4 vote. Now, construction firms must run employees through the federal E-Verify program in order to gain city contracts; they must also vouch for existing employees' immigration status.
There's little question Denver could do more. As Osher reported, a number of cities across the nation have begun to participate in a program that essentially deputizes police as immigration agents, allowing them to initiate deportation proceedings. Denver hasn't done this.
But we suspect no policy would be strong enough for Tancredo.
As a congressman, Tancredo supported moratoriums on legal immigration and voted against temporary- worker programs critical to Colorado industries. Maybe Hickenlooper should turn the tables and ask him why that's a responsible position for a would-be chief executive of this state.
A lefty trying to protect the Left’s failing taboos, he will fail.
Again the leftist media rag known as the compost is using the logic if we say it enough, it will become the truth.
I guess he didn’t research well enough or fight hard enough to get Denver removed from the Sanctuary city list!!
http://www.sanctuarycities.info/sanctuary_state_colorado.htm
Well, somebody had better tell Mayor ChickenPooper. He says itis.
The Denver comPost is Socialist fishwrap. They stopped carrying Ads for Gunshows thirty years ago.. They fail to tell you that one of Chickenloopers employees Chickenlooper's Restaurant ignored the notification from E-Verify Chickenlooper's Illegal Alien employee then assassinated a Denver Police Officer Denver has been a sanctuary city since the days of Freddie Pena Bovine Scat !
an un-documented worker ( Illegal Alien) whom the E-Verify
people identified as an Illegal Alien to Chickenlooper's restaurant.
ANd you forgot my fav Hick went to his good buddies on Valentines day to say If he was Gov. reprobates could marry
despite the fact Colorado has a State DOMA and does not recognize same sex FRAUD as marriage.
Many of the Colorado recreational areas near Denver (skiing, summer sports, etc.) have substantial immigrant populations working the service industries. During the summers the local playgrounds have about a 70-30% balance.
Can’t imagine the sanctuary policy in Denver is any different
Typically, at least in those outer areas, if they are caught driving without a license they are simply told to get a ride home.
This is a Hit piece on Tom TancredoThat Too !
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