Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo on Monday asked Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to adopt tougher police policies when it comes to dealing with suspected illegal immigrants.
The request came in response to revelations that former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, now a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, allowed plea bargains with illegal and legal immigrants that let suspects avoid deportation. Drug, domestic violence and theft charges were knocked down to trespassing on agricultural land, even though there was no factual basis for that charge.
Ritter has said there were significant evidentiary issues in many of those cases that led to plea deals on the agricultural charge.
Calling Ritter’s policy “plead and release,” Republican Tancredo called on Hickenlooper to have Denver police fingerprint illegal immigrants detained on minor violations and send the information to federal authorities.
Cole Finegan, the mayor’s acting chief of staff and city attorney, said he couldn’t comment because he had not reviewed the letter.
Also on Monday, Ritter’s opponent, Republican Bob Beauprez, sent a letter to Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey asking him to end the practice of allowing immigrants to plea-bargain to agricultural trespass.
Lynn Kimbrough, communications director for the district attorney’s office, said she had not seen the letter and, therefore, could not comment.
