DENVER – A second attempt to crackdown on “sanctuary city” policies was stuck down Wednesday by Democrats in the state Legislature.
Senate Bill 281, which would hold government employees responsible for crimes committed by illegal immigrants if their jurisdictions adopted policies protecting those immigrants, was killed by the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on a 6-3 party line vote.
The bill also would have stripped funding from local governments that failed to comply with federal immigration law.
This is the second time a variation of the bill has come before the Democratic “kill committee” where legislation seen as unfavorable to the party goes to die, according to the GOP.
The sponsor, Rep. Dave Williams, R-Colorado Springs, said he held no illusions for what would happen Wednesday, but was grateful for the opportunity to continue the conversation and let Coloradans know where lawmakers stand on the issue.
Williams added that he believes the measure became unduly politicized for what he saw as not a Democrat or Republican issue, but an American one.
“We should not be creating policy or tolerating policy that encourages illegal aliens to come here and potentially harm our citizens,” he said.
Williams pointed to a city ordinance being considered by Denver as an example of such policy.
The ordinance, proposed by the Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, would lower the sentencing penalties for violating most city laws to 364 days. As federal law allows for the deportation of immigrants who are convicted of crimes that carry a one-year sentence, the ordinance would mean they would not face deportation except in extreme cases, such as hate crimes.
Democrats took issue with the contention that SB 281 was not a partisan bill, saying it was unfortunate that it had resurfaced in the closing days of the session.
“I think the sponsors are playing political football with peoples’ lives and that’s not what we should be doing,” said Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora.
Melton said the legislation is a product of 2016 campaign rhetoric and is particularly troubling to him because of the diversity of his community.
“I come from the most diverse city in the state; we see people who immigrate from all parts of the world,” Melton said. “Our city has over 130 languages spoken in it and when you start making these divisive bills and speaking all this divisive language, how do we expect those communities to work with our law enforcement, to be comfortable to approach when they’ve been victimized?”
Rep. Mike Foote, D-Lafayette and chairman of the committee, called SB 281 a flawed and cynical bill that he would be happy to see gone.
“I’m glad we won’t have to talk about this bill for the rest of the session, hopefully it will be the same thing next session as well,” Foote said.
He may not get his wish however, as Williams said constituents who are interested in running a ballot initiative for the November election have approached him.
“If the Democrats aren’t going to pass it then maybe it’s time for the people to pass it.”
lperkins@durangoherald.com
