Cochise County, Ariz. – An uneven dirt road widened as it turned near the San Pedro River and up to a barbed-wire fence marking the U.S.-Mexico border for Colorado legislators and their Arizona guides Tuesday.
Several members of the group, including Colorado Rep. Jim Welker, crossed the river on the U.S. side and climbed an embankment to see the trail that authorities say is a major path into the United States for undocumented immigrants.
“If we want to get serious about protecting our borders, we have to use the military,” Welker said as he peered into Mexico.
“Most of the people coming across are looking for jobs and better lives. Others bring drugs and plan terrorism. Thirty percent are not Mexican, and I worry about that.”
Border agents in this area apprehend 1.1 million people trying to cross each year.
A group of Colorado legislators and other officials continued their week-long visit Tuesday in Arizona with a drive into the desert of Cochise County, led by Arizona political candidates and advocates eager to push for stronger policies against illegal immigration.
“This trip has really cemented my thoughts more than before,” said Colorado Rep. David Schultheis.
Reps. Schultheis of Colorado Springs, Welker of Loveland and Bill Crane of Arvada are talking to Arizona officials who helped pass Proposition 200, which denies public services to undocumented immigrants.
The trio of Republicans are talking to ranchers and other residents about illegal immigration.
The Colorado lawmakers say they worry about the financial strain of illegal immigration on public services, including health care, which is why they plan to support a ballot initiative in Colorado similar to Proposition 200 in November 2006. It’s unclear how much money is spent on undocumented immigrants because no studies have been done, they said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are an estimated 150,000 undocumented immigrants in Colorado.
Schultheis says a decrease in assimilation among some undocumented immigrants and the large influx of undocumented immigrants in the past decade contribute to the problem.
Said Crane, “We wanted some firsthand knowledge of what is going on down here.”
The group plans to support Colorado legislation that would limit services for undocumented immigrants, prohibit them from purchasing homes and penalize businesses that hire them.
Staff writer Elizabeth Aguilera can be reached at 303-820-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com.
