While immigration has been a talking point for the gubernatorial hopefuls, several Latino leaders say there are more critical issues in Colorado to discuss.
“Immigration is being brought up so much (that it) is distracting and does not … address real issues in Colorado, like people who don’t have health care and students who are not graduating from high school,” said Gabriela Flora of the American Friends Service Committee.
During town halls and debates, Republican candidate Bob Beauprez has emphasized illegal immigration as a major issue in the state and has challenged his opponent, former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, over some of Ritter’s plea agreements with illegal immigrants and over his support of in-state tuition for some children of illegal immigrants.
If elected, Beauprez said he would push for tougher laws on employer verification and require proof of citizenship to vote. His plan for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country is to send them back to their native countries and apply to return to the U.S.
Beauprez calls this “cleansing” the workforce.
“Sure, we have other issues – education, health care, water – but I think people’s frustration about this issue is trumping everything else,” Beauprez told The Denver Post recently.
Ritter, a Democrat, says immigration is a federal issue and that he supports President Bush’s plan for comprehensive immigration reform, which includes border security and a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants.
“I think immigration is a big issue, but I also think ensuring that our kids have access to quality K-12 education, and those who want to go to college have access. … These are issues that need to be addressed by the next governor,” Ritter told The Post.
Ritter has garnered support from many Latinos because of his stance on immigration, said Adrienne Benavidez, executive director of Color of Justice, a legal and policy advocacy center for communities of color.
“I think he understands immigration is truly a federal issue and even though it’s a very disproportionate burden with respect to some costs, the way to correct that is by getting the federal government to sit down at the table,” she said.
Former Gov. Dick Lamm, a critic of illegal immigration, said the issue shouldn’t trump other concerns, though he says more can be done about it at the state level.
“I think the governor’s office is a secondary office in dealing with immigration,” he said.
Fidel Butch Montoya – coordinator of Confianza, an association of Latino ministers – said Beauprez was wrong to emphasize illegal immigration.
“It seems it’s the only issue he has traction on,” Montoya said.
Beauprez says he stands by his positions on illegal immigration because its effects are far- reaching.
“Immigration resonates with people. It’s a safety/security issue; it’s an economic issue; it’s an equity issue,” he said.
Staff writer Elizabeth Aguilera can be reached at 303-820-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com.
