The more than 500,000 immigrants living in Colorado provide many economic benefits to our state, including contributing more than $3.9 billion in taxes annually. Additionally, 80,000 Coloradoans are employed by immigrant owned firms, and 30 percent of the Fortune 500 companies in Colorado were founded by immigrants or their children.
Rep. Scott Tipton recognizes immigrant and Dreamer contributions – even calling for a legislative solution for Dreamers himself following the administration’s September 5, 2017 decision to rescind the program: “I believe Congress must act to develop a compassionate and commonsense solution for the children who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents. These individuals have grown up in the United States and are now upstanding, valued members of our communities. They should not be punished for a decision that was made by their parents years ago.”
Despite those supportive comments, last month Rep. Tipton voted in favor of the Securing America’s Future (SAF) Act, which is anything but “compassionate and commonsense” – it failed to provide a legislative solution for Dreamers and included cuts to legal immigration levels.
Rep. Tipton is not the only lawmaker who wants a Dreamer solution. We need to approach this issue with an open mind and in a bipartisan manner, working across the aisle to enact a viable solution like the Uniting and Securing America (USA) Act.
Rep. Tipton, Coloradans are looking to you to put this issue to rest and protect the Dreamers and immigrants living in and contributing to our communities.
Kody Michael Gerkin
Telluride
