Immigration
We honor and defend the rights of everyone in Colorado regardless of citizenship. We value the contributions of immigrants and refugees to the vibrancy of our state. We value the contributions that those from other lands bring to our national economic, intellectual, and cultural life. We value diversity and must provide a pathway for aspiring Americans to earn citizenship. We recognize that the current immigration system is broken.
We have seen an increase in hate crimes and activity of white supremacist and white nationalist groups throughout the US, including in Colorado. Immigrant communities have been a continued target. We have seen the ending of DACA, turning away of refugees, and termination of Temporary Protected Status for vulnerable communities. Therefore, we support the following:
Pass a compassionate immigration reform bill that promotes a more direct pathway toward citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Uphold rights guaranteed by the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights to all persons in the United States regardless of citizenship status.
End efforts to build or finance a border wall between the US and Mexico and support strategic demolition of existing wall structures.
Pass legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for students and those who came here as children, which includes reinstating DACA and passing a Clean-DREAM Act.
Continue in-state tuition rates for undocumented students and the expansion of financial aid for undocumented college students.
Streamline applications for visas, work permits, and residency into a more just and humane process with substantial reduction in wait time and backlogs.
An end to family separation. We support strengthening local immigrant and refugee communities, family reunification, and accepting close family members of current or future immigrants.
Ending the practice of deporting immigrants and/or refugees to areas where their health, safety, or lives are in jeopardy.
Reinstate TPS to those who have lost this protection and extending an opportunity for residency to all TPS holders.
Expand the Colorado immigrant driver’s license program, so more immigrants can obtain a driver's license.
Ensure that undocumented immigrants have a voice to report crimes without fear of deportation, and therefore
urge the repeal of state and federal laws and practices that erode trust between immigrant communities and
law enforcement agencies.
Protect undocumented immigrants from deportation through sanctuary state policies. We support establishing and adequately funding law enforcement training programs to identify, prevent, and end profiling and discrimination of immigrants.
Undocumented immigrants who have committed no criminal offense should not be subject to incarceration or detention, especially to meet Department of Homeland Security’s daily quota, which was established to deliver millions of dollars a year to private prison companies.
Children taken into custody by the Department of Homeland security should not be detained in cages/holding cells and should receive appropriate nutrition, medical attention and mental health services while in custody.
Non-citizens that have served the U.S. Military should not be deported unless they have been dishonorably
discharged or committed serious crimes. As such, we support a fast-track process to allow non-citizen US veterans to become US citizens.
Oppose the classification of undocumented immigration as a criminal offense.
Congressional review of the actions and administrative oversight of ICE and the abuses and weaponization of its
authority against immigrant communities.
Protect immigrant workers with labor laws that prevent exploitation, portability to other authorized employers,
appropriate living conditions, adherence to International Labor Organization, standard of rights to earned
Implement a moratorium on deportations of all immigrant community members, who have not been convicted of serious crimes, until the enactment of comprehensive immigration reform wages, safe and humane working conditions, the right to travel between the United States and an individual’s country of origin, and the opportunity for all workers to engage in collective bargaining.
Reform of the H-1B Visa Worker Program to address worker abuses and displacement of US workers.
Oppose laws that make any immigrants, including those of long-standing residency, ineligible for health care,
public assistance, and other essential programs.
Cancel deportation orders, support the wider use of U-Visas (giving victims of certain crimes temporary work
eligibility), and create a streamlined roadmap to citizenship for undocumented workers who provide information on violations of labor law by their employers or for other crimes.
Oppose any legislation that criminalizes humane acts of assistance to undocumented immigrants or the
immigrant community.
Support the ability of immigrant populations, regardless of citizenship status, to be engaged and encouraged to participate in the civic process across all levels.
Implement foreign policy and trade agreements that help other countries expand their economies in order to
provide their citizens with work opportunities and support labor rights that improve their standard of living,
making emigration a matter of choice and not necessity.
Recognize the legitimate rights of refugees fleeing persecution, violence, and climate degradation, and
therefore we support a modernized process that allows for more individuals seeking refuge to enter the US
quickly and securely.
Oppose any attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the US
Constitution.
Urge our legislators to reject xenophobia, ensure that our laws fully protect and promote equality, safety, and
respect for all people in the US, so that all people can live without fear, abuse, or retaliation. We reject cutting
back on the number of visas issued for legal immigration.
Increase funding for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction, civic education, and citizenship classes.
Increase funding and federal action to address the health, safety and family unification needs of immigrants detained at U.S. borders, including, but is not limited to, adequate food and shelter, treatment of medical and health needs, education for children, keeping families together, fast tracking hearings through additional judges and guaranteeing legal representation.