Colorado immigrants collateral damage in Catholic culture war

Nicole Mosher, executive director of Durango-based nonprofit immigrant-aid organization Compañeros, is weighing how to keep her organization running effectively in light of the surprising news that the anti-poverty Catholic organization that supplies half of Companeros’ annual budget would likely end that support due to Compañeros’ indirect association with gay-rights group One Colorado.

Secure Communities participation won’t be forced by Colorado

A bill to force counties to participate in Secure Communities died in a Senate committee Monday. Opponents cited racism and opposition to forcing another unfunded mandate on rural counties.

ASSET bill passes Senate: faces uncertain future in House

After extensive and energetic debate, a bill which would allow undocumented students who attended high school in Colorado access to in-state tuition, passed second hearing in the Senate in a 20-13 vote. The bill passed on party lines.

Colorado Latino lobby day underlines lopsided nature of immigration debate

DENVER– When hundreds of Coloradans flocked to the capitol here Monday for the state’s fifth-annual Latino Advocacy Day, it was a rare recent instance in the state and around the country where support for policies that embrace immigration, U.S. Latino communities and the rights of undocumented residents stole the spotlight from support for policies that set deporting “illegals” and establishing border security as top priorities.

Latino Republicans and immigrant rights groups react with fury to immigration bill

An Arizona-style immigration bill introduced in Colorado yesterday has met with fierce resistance from immigrant rights groups.

The long expected immigration bill by Sen. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, sparked a firestorm of condemnation from local civil rights groups.

As DC weighs DREAM Act, immigrant rights group loses vote in Longmont

Immigrant rights supporters lost a bid in Longmont last night to send a message to local residents and federal lawmakers in support of the DREAM Act. The Longmont City Council voted against a pro-DREAM Act resolution. The federal bill…

Detainee details time in ICE subfield office ‘black site’

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokespeople balked at questions posed by the Colorado Independent in January about the roughly nine ICE “substation” holding facilities located throughout the state. They downplayed concerns about rights violations and about detainees disappearing for hours and days unable to be located by loved ones and advocates. Basalt-resident Edgar Niebla was held in one of the substations. He told the Colorado Independent the concerns are justified.

McInnis support for Arizona immigration law drawing appalled reactions

Colorado Democratic Party leaders and rights groups are voicing appalled reaction to statements made Wednesday by GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis, who lauded Arizona Governor Jan Brewer for signing tough, deeply controversial and perhaps unconstituional immigration laws in the country last week. McInnis said he would seek to do the same thing in Colorado were he to win election.

Consent-to-search bill takes aim at racial profiling

DENVER– Backed by a coalition of citizens’ rights groups, Democratic lawmakers Rep. Karen Middleton of Aurora and Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver introduced a bill that would require police to inform citizens of their right to refuse voluntary searches. The groups backing the bill believe it would limit traffic stops and searches that stem from discrimination.

Right claims Weld County immigration raid court loss as a victory

Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that a dramatic Weld County raid on tax records last year violated the Fourth Amendment, which guards the right to privacy. The raid, dubbed Operation Numbers Game, was instigated by Weld…