Date: 02/21/2006
Final
General Public Testimony
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS
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03:32 PM -- General Public Testimony
The following people provided general public testimony:
03:33 PM -- Twanna Latrice Hill, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, testified in opposition to House Bills 06-1134 and 06-1131. Ms. Hill explained that passage of these bills may cause illegal immigrant victims of domestic violence to not report the crimes committed against them. Ms. Hill cited specific federal and state domestic violence laws that would be undermined by passage of these bills. In response to committee questions, Ms. Hill clarified her reasons for opposing House Bill 06-1131.
03:41 PM -- Mr. Emzy Veazy III, testified in favor of the bills seeking to stiffen illegal immigration penalties.
03:44 PM -- Mr. Brian Wareing, representing himself, testified in favor of the bills before the committee. Mr. Wareing discussed the general economic, social, and legal impact of illegal immigration on the United States and Central American countries.
03:50 PM -- Mr. John H. Patterson, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, explained his organization's position on immigration enforcement. Committee members were provided with a position paper detailing this position (Attachment R). Mr. Patterson explained that the association isn't taking a position on illegal immigration itself, but rather the impact of certain bills on the practicality of policing. Mr. Patterson clarified that the association specifically objects to House Bills 06-1101, 06-1131, and 06-1134. A discussion ensued regarding the proper law enforcement body for enforcing immigration laws and resources available to enforce these laws. Mr. Patterson responded to questions regarding his preferred prescriptions for dealing with illegal immigration issues and the outlook for addressing the issues in the future.
04:05 PM -- Mr. Tom Kowal, representing Coloradans for Immigrant Rights, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Mr. Kowal explained that the United States immigration and work visa system should be overhauled comprehensively, an effort to which the bills would not contribute. Mr. Kowal provided some historic background regarding immigration in the United States, and discussed the relationship between trade, economics, and immigration.
04:13 PM -- Mr. Glen Colton, representing Northern Coloradans for Immigration Reduction, testified in favor of the bills before the committee. Mr. Colton discussed the negative impacts of increased immigration. Mr. Colton specifically approved of bills seeking to punish employers for employing illegal immigrants.
04:21 PM -- Ms. Kathleen Hazouri, representing the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Colorado Chapter, testified regarding the bills before the committee. Ms. Hazouri testified in opposition to House Bill 06-1062, stating that children in the United States are entitled to a public education. Ms. Hazouri then testified in opposition to a number of other bills before the committee on the grounds that they contribute to racial and ethnic profiling by government entities, and detailed various breaches in civil liberties protections that would occur with passage of the bills. She discussed House Bill 06-1343, which she said would allow someone to report, through a "tip line," an employer who may be employing undocumented immigrants and said that this type of provision is opposed by the ACLU. She responded to questions regarding what she believed to be the constitutional issues pertinent to the House Bill 06-1343. Ms. Hazouri then responded to questions regarding solutions that the ACLU might support, and explained that the states have limited powers with regard to immigration law.
04:38 PM -- Perry Lorenz, representing himself, testified in support of the bills before the committee. He stated that the bills have the potential to reduce illegal immigration and expressed his support for the interests of the American people and the country's heritage.
04:40 PM -- Fred Elbel, representing Defend Colorado Now, testified in support of the bills before the committee. He discussed the potential impact of immigration-driven population increases in Colorado and the United States. He expressed concern about the cost of illegal immigration and referenced a document he had distributed containing demographic data and an article regarding narcotics trafficking through Denver (Attachment S).
04:44 PM -- Mr. James Swanson, representing himself, testified in support of the bills before the committee. Mr. Swanson specifically supported House Bills 06-1286 and 06-1290.
04:46 PM -- Ms. Tamika Payne, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Ms. Payne specifically cited House Bills 06-1131 and 06-1134. Ms. Payne explained that the bills will inhibit the reporting of sexual assault by illegal immigrants and contribute to ethnic and racial profiling. Ms. Payne also explained that House Bill 06-1134 will be detrimental to the cause of cutting down on sex slave trafficking.
04:52 PM -- Ms. Wanda Weatherford, representing the Minutemen, testified in favor of the bills before the committee, and expressed her frustration at the lack of action by various levels of government to address immigration issues.
04:53 PM -- Mr. Lee Clendenin, representing "all taxpayers in USA", testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Mr. Clendenin explained the circumstances that brought him to the United States and his attempts to establish citizenship.
05:03 PM -- Ms. Adrienne Benavidez, representing the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the Color of Justice, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Ms. Benavidez asserted that immigration issues should be addressed comprehensively at the federal level. Ms. Benavidez detailed, bill by bill, the various violations of existing law and detrimental outcomes that would occur if the bills were to pass. Ms. Benavidez also cited federal laws that preempt the law seeking to be effected in certain bills.
05:28 PM -- Ms. Donna Lipinski, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee, and suggested that leaders work within the framework of existing law to come to solutions regarding immigration.
05:30 PM -- Mr. Chuck Saxton, representing himself, testified regarding the bills before the committee. Mr. Saxton discussed the economic and social impact of immigration on Colorado and the nation.
05:34 PM -- Mr. Robert Copley, representing Colorado Minutemen, testified in favor of the bills before the committee. Mr. Copley discussed the need for Colorado to take action with regard to illegal immigration in the absence of action at the federal level.
05:37 PM -- Mr. Philip Sekon, representing himself, testified in favor of the bills before the committee. Mr. Sekon explained the process by which he became a United States citizen, and stressed the need to enforce the country's laws.
05:39 PM -- Mr. William Perry, representing himself, testified in favor of the bills before the committee, with the exception of House Bill 06-1082. Mr. Perry expressed his fears and concerns associated with illegal immigration.
05:42 PM -- Mr. Harold Lasso, representing Centro Humanitario, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Mr. Lasso discussed the impact of immigration on public health, crime, traffic accidents, and education. Mr. Lasso next discussed changes in the labor market which result in a large pool of temporary workers. Mr. Lasso then explained changes in immigration law at the federal level under past presidential administrations and the impact of those changes.
05:52 PM -- Mr. James Johnson, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Mr. Johnson discussed the nexus between law and justice, and the ability of the bills before the committee to stem illegal immigration. Mr. Johnson took specific exception to House Bill 06-1062. Mr. Johnson quoted from a book authored by Mr. Frosty Wooldridge, who testified previously, and expressed his objections to these passages. Mr. Johnson proposed comprehensive immigration reform as a solution to current problems. Mr. Johnson responded to a question regarding his efforts regarding immigration reform at the federal level.
06:09 PM -- Mr. Rich Jones, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Mr. Jones referenced two handouts regarding House Bill 06-1062 (Attachments T and U), copies of which were distributed to the committee. Mr. Jones expressed the need to address immigration issues comprehensively at the federal level. Mr. Jones then discussed the center's objections to specific bills, and concurred with some earlier witness comments pertaining to these bills. Mr. Jones clarified that the Bell Policy Center would support House Bill 06-1343 if some changes were made to the bill. Mr. Jones then explained the Plyler vs. Doe United States Supreme Court decision, which guarantees the right of school-age children to an education in the United States regardless of citizenship status. Mr. Jones agreed to provide the community with clarification regarding information provided in Attachment at a future time.
06:17 PM -- Ms. Joy Athanasiou, an immigration attorney representing herself, testified in opposition to the bills before the committee. Ms. Athanasiou explained that problems addressed in certain bills require action at the federal level. She then explained the potential impact of House Bill 06-1082 on businesses, and objected to House Bill 06-1134 on the grounds that law enforcement personnel could detain persons in the country legally under the bill, causing those detained to experience economic burdens. Ms. Athanasiou discussed what she viewed as factual flaws in the legislative declaration of House Bill 06-1286. Ms. Athanasiou closed her testimony by reiterating the need to address immigration issues at the federal level.
06:30 PM
The committee recessed.