Sen. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, today introduced a controversial bill that would allow law enforcement officers to arrest–without a warrant–anyone who they believe may be an illegal alien.
Lambert has said in the past that he wants to enact a measure similar to a law passed in Arizona last year that garnered national attention. Among other things, the Arizona law allows peace officers to arrest anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.
The Colorado version isn’t nearly that broad, Lambert said, because the Legislature’s single-title restriction doesn’t give him the leeway to include as many provisions as the Arizona law. What his measure does is give officers the right to arrest anyone they suspect of having committed a felony, could be extradited or detained by the federal government, or if they’re in violation of any other federal law. That includes being in the U.S. illegally.
The bill doesn’t give carte blanche to officers to arrest anyone they choose, said Lambert. It requires officers to show probable cause for their arrests.
“It’s an anti-criminal bill,” said Lambert. “Probable cause is a pretty high threshold.”
Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, said the bill undermines the abilities of local police to solve crimes with the help of residents.
“If you really think that I might think that you are not here legally, then why would you ever interact with the police? Why would you partner with them?” Morse said. “It starts to focus on illegal immigration, and to hell with gang violence and those kinds of things.”
He also said the bill would unfairly make local officers responsible for enforcing federal law.
“”We’re not doing it at the street level, where it’s like, ‘I’ve got probable cause, your skin is brown, you can’t provide me a driver’s license right this minute, so you’re here illegally,’” he said.
Lambert retorted that if the law is being broken, then the perpetrator should be punished accordingly.
“If there’s evidence of probable cause that they should be arrested, why should we not arrest them?” he said.
Julien Ross, executive director of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, said the bill would be “a nightmare” for the state if it becomes law.
“I find it mind-boggling that a handful of senators would pursue the same kind of legislation that has cost the state of Arizona millions of dollars,” said Ross.
He pointed out that Arizona faced a national boycott after their law passed, and said tourists and skiers may choose to visit other states that don’t have “the black eye of anti-immigration legislation.”
The bill is being co-sponsored by other Colorado Springs Republicans, including Sen. Bill Cadman, Sen. Keith King, Rep. Mark Barker, Rep. Janak Joshi, and Rep. Mark Waller. Sen. Mark Scheffel, of Parker, represents a northern portion of El Paso County, and is also a co-sponsor.
bad move. “or if they’re in violation of any other federal law” turns our local police into federal thugs. Local taxes are levied for LOCAL purposes. let Federal tax dollars pay for federal law enforcement.
It is finally time. Instead of protecdt illegal aliens and encouraging more illegal immigration, we need to start enforcing the law.
Nice start but they need e verify for current and future employees. Take away the reason most illegals are here.
YES YES YES!!!!….maybe it will pay off that we elected that GOP House!…let’s see the House support this Senate initiative!
This is an excellent bill that should have been enacted years ago. The drain on taxpayers in almost all areas of our economy is estimated to be approximately $1.2billion. It is the perfect Jobs bill as well. Working illegal aliens in Colorado are taking jobs from our most-needy citizens. Those losing their jobs to illegal aliens are very likely to end up on welfare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and other programs designed to assist the poor.
Pass E-Verify along with all those other measures. Its use should be mandatory. It is free for the employer, requires little training to use, and is fast and accurate. More businesses are using it every day, on a voluntary basis. It should be mandatory. Unscrupulous employers like cheap illegal alien labor whijch results in the taxpayer having to make up for all the services required by illegal aliens and their chfildren.
The ill-considered argument for ILLEGALS is no longer effective.
First of all, they are in violation of the law.
Secondly, The arguement of “jurisdiction” is ill-placed. Local agencies are quickly utilized for bank robbery, drug enforcement, kidnapping and other infractions.
Thirdly, If the community does not participate in solving a problem, they become the problem and
Not the neighbors I want to share MY community with!
There are three primary places where everyone that arrives there should be checked to ensure they are in the country legally: hospital emergency rooms, vehicle registration, and law enforcement offices when a person is booked for suspicion of having committed a felony or misdemeanor. Anyone who is in this nation illegally and commits a felony should be immediately deported upon completing their prison or jail sentence, without exception. It’s much more difficult trying to pick someone up off the street who hasn’t committed any other crime than being in the country illegally, and having police officers do it will lead to lawsuits. Sen. Lambert should re-word his bill to include the three places I’ve mentioned, and forget having traffic police arrest illegals.
@Nevaar or raaven mad;
Your state has cost other states to fund your unlawful sanctuary.
Federal tax comes from the citizens of each state it is not self-generated in DC.
You most likely ignored last weeks release by the DHS statement showing it would cost 125 billion to get rid of the illegal aliens and it cost that much for their upkeep by taxpayers each month so it is cheaper all the way round to boot the Foreign National Illegal Aliens OUT. It would do well to deport the illegal immigrants as well, yes there are different legal terms of the two.
Ummmmm, yeah. Just like any other law, it will be enforced with a grain of salt. If you need a hammer to hold over someones head, or a reason to get them off the street, you’ll pull it out of the tool box. Otherwise, very few street cops will bother with yet another unfunded mandate from the state.
very few lose jobs to illegal immigrants, unless you want to be working for below minimum wage with no benefits. plus they don’t complain about their work like us lazy americans would.
If any true fiscal-conservative would look closer at this bill, they would realize why it’s such a terrible idea. The cost of housing, processing, transporting, and prosecuting people suspected of being illegal aliens would far-outweigh whatever figures David pulls out. Apologies to all you states-rights folks out there, but this issue is way too big for each state to handle on its own.
Don’t throw nonsense out under the guise of legitimate facts. Your alleged facts have been proven inaccurate by objective economic research. The vast majority of undocumented aliens avoid situations where they’d have to provide any identifying information so their interaction with taxpayer supported entities is very limited. In fact, they generate tax revenue. The typical job filled by an undocumented worker is not one that a person considered a “bread winner” for a family would be interested in having when they can take government aid instead. I completely support the improved enforcement of current laws and improved border security but laws like these represent an unnecessary strain on our already depleted law enforcement agencies.
Apparently no-one in Colorado has received the word that the Arizona law is currently being appealed (for a number of reasons) to the Supreme Court. As I recall, an appelate court in California has already annulled it….I suggest that the state morons in the capital look around for something to do that IS useful, and WILL help the folk who are living here. Employment, Jobs, lower taxes for one, two and three would be a great start…
It would be easier to build a fence around Arizona and keep the rabid fascism there.
Rednecks being rednecks.
For some this is not the 21st century.
NO! LA county spent $600,000,000 on illegals and their children according to their council. California spent $1,200,000,000 (all in2010). We need to out do them! We don’t need roads or bridges; snow plowed, or a myriad of other services. We need to give welfare and education to those that flaunt our laws.
I guess it would be easier to just give up on trying to protect our country. Is that what we really want?If we don’t control who and how many people our country then all will be losts. We DO already have about a million quotas for legal immigration.
When the going gets tough, the fearmongered get scapegoating.
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“Probable cause is a pretty high threshold.”
Unfortunately this is inaccurate. Probable cause is whatever the police want it to be.
Many illegals have returned to Mexico because of lack of employment. This is just grand standing by Lamborn. I would like to see Lamborn use his time on issues like jobs and the Colorado budget.
Good start, but not tough enough! We need to get rid of all of the illegals that are already here as well. Makes me sick that someone would be actually defending these law breaking free loaders. But then again, many have lost every bit of decency already. Bleeding hearts, what a waste. And look who’s calling names!
Not exactly. Probable cause is outlined in each individual statute. Something is either a violation, or it isn’t. Officer discretion however does vary from officer to officer.
BTW, you are right about one thing, it isn’t a very high threshold. By definition, a violation probably happened.
Great work Sen. Lambert !!!
Thank you.
[...] The Colorado version isn’t nearly that broad, Lambert said, because the Legislature’s single-title restriction doesn’t give him the leeway to include as many provisions as the Arizona law. What his measure does is give officers the right to arrest anyone they suspect of having committed a felony, could be extradited or detained by the federal government, or if they’re in violation of any other federal law. That includes being in the U.S. illegally. [Second Reading] [...]
CSaction, define “redneck”.
Dear Senator Lambert,
I am embarrassed and ashamed that you have introduced the Anti-Immigration bill to the CO State Legislature. Have you ever read Deuteronomy 14:17? Check it out. Not a Christian? Well, how about common respect?
If this would pass we would hurt big time in the tourism field from boycotts and lack of workers. We decided not to vacation this month in AZ because we could not support that state in inhuman treatment and disrespect for fellow humans.
I wish my tax dollars did not pay your salary when you do such a foolhardy thing as this bill.
Please reconsider this awful bill.
Thanks
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