Colorado lawmakers who reconvene today for an unprecedented special session to deal with illegal immigration have been given a special opportunity.
The should put aside the one-dimensional immigration initiative that would strip state and local services from illegal immigrants and develop a bipartisan approach that will help the state overcome the immigration pitfalls that have ensnarled this state and many others.
As a national spotlight is cast on Colorado, lawmakers have a chance to lead the country into a civil debate over illegal immigration and show Congress that it’s possible to put a common-sense face on what’s now a divisive, potentially destructive issue.
Immigration is a problem that ultimately must be solved at the nation’s Capitol, but too many of our lawmakers – at least in this election year – are bent on posturing and playing political games rather than coming up with consensus solutions.
Knowing that, Colorado lawmakers ought to take up the mantle and consider any statutory changes that can be helpful in stemming the flow and impact of illegal immigrants, including measures that take aggressive action on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants and benefit from their vulnerability.
Both parties unveiled their priorities for the session on Wednesday, and we see plenty of opportunities to make headway on the issue.
Both parties would like residents to provide some sort of verifiable proof of citizenship to vote, and both would like to force the Supreme Court to rule on proposed ballot initiatives within 30 days.
And both sides want to crack down on employers who hire illegals, either innocently or with a wink and a nod.
Statehouse Republicans seem open to two important concessions. In their attempt to get a ballot initiative before voters that improves on the Defend Colorado Now effort shot down by the state Supreme Court, GOP leaders have eliminated a loony clause that invited lawsuits. Politicians of all stripes should be able to agree with that.
The GOP also is circulating legislative language that details the state services that would be denied to illegal immigrants – retirement benefits, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance or unemployment benefits – but would specifically allow them to receive services dealing with communicable disease prevention, medical treatment and immunizations.
Lawmakers should reject any attempts to meddle with the Constitution. Robust debate is sorely need on illegal immigration and its impacts on our communities, and the legislature is the most appropriate place for that.
Lawmakers from both parties will try to use this special session for their own political gain, but we hope those who are trying to make divisive political points with this issue do not prevail. Colorado has put itself in the center of the immigration debate, and while individual states don’t have a great deal of influence on the subject, congressional inaction has opened a door for Colorado to make a lasting contribution.
