Immigration ultimatum
By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News
October 6, 2005
A group of activists delivered petitions to Gov. Bill Owens's office today, demanding he declare a state of emergency and use sports arenas and former military bases as overflow detention centers for illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.
The petitions also asked that Owens issue an executive order reversing any local sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants and that he enforce Colorado's "English only laws"
Terry Graham, a Boulder County resident, said several immigration-reform groups had been able to collect 160 signatures since September.
Graham said she wants Owens to do something similar to what state government did for Gulf Coast evacuees who are now living temporarily in dormitories at the former Lowry Air Force base.
"Many of us would have hoped that Gov. Owens would have acted on this issue," she said. "He hasn't. He has been MIA on this issue."
A spokesman for Owens said the governor has not had time to review the petitions.
Spokesman Mark Salley said Owens has forwarded the documents to his legal counsel, "to look at what he is being asked to do and to find out what authority he has to do the things he is being asked to do."


Reply With Quote
