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Immigration Reform

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Immigration has always been an important part of our history and our success as a country. We're largely a nation of immigrants - throughout our history people from around the world have come here to find better lives for themselves and their families. In Colorado, immigrants have come to our state to farm and ranch, to build railroads, and to work as miners, among many other pursuits. Their contributions have had a lasting and positive impact on our state's economy and cultural heritage.

Today, legal channels of immigration can still add value to our economy and our communities; however, our current immigration system is badly in need of reform. It has failed to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy and has been further complicated by the security needs that have resulted from the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

I am greatly concerned about the serious challenges we face as we consider immigration reform and the repercussions for Colorado's workers, employers and families. My goal is to support policies that uphold the rule of law, are tough on lawbreakers and fair to taxpayers. Any solution to fix our immigration system must ensure that employers hire only those who are legally authorized to work in the United States, make our country safer by preventing drug-traffickers and terrorists from entering the United States, and improve the legal channels to enter our country. Legislation must also responsibly address the status of the estimated 12 million undocumented people who are currently living in the United States. I am confident that there is a sensible, bipartisan solution to our country's immigration issues, particularly if we lower the temperature on heated rhetoric that fuels ethnic and cultural division. Reasonable people can disagree about how best to address immigration reform; however, only by engaging in open and honest discussion will we be able to work toward solving any or our shared problems, including immigration reform.

Border Control and National Security

We must continue to prioritize the security of our northern and southern borders, our ports of entry and our coastlines through common-sense and cost-effective policies.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is charged with ensuring that goods and travelers can move swiftly and safely through our ports of entry while inhibiting the illegal trafficking of persons, drugs, weapons and other illegal goods.  It is the responsibility of the U.S. Congress to ensure that DHS has the resources and personnel it needs to carry out its duties and keep our nation safe.  As Colorado's senior senator, I take this responsibility very seriously.

We should continue to support efforts to inhibit human and other illicit trafficking across the border.  In doing so, we must find fiscally responsible ways to ensure that we are providing adequate resources at our borders and ports of entry to protect against terrorists, illicit trade and illegal activity.

Legal Immigrant Workers

Immigration reform involves balancing two important policy objectives: Enforcing employment law and addressing the need for legal immigrant labor in some industries.  I strongly believe that only those who are authorized to work in the United States should be able to do so, which is why I believe that we must build a robust worker verification program that protects American workers, while also making employers part of the solution.

I also believe that any visa program should not adversely affect American workers, which is why I support maintaining and exploring opportunities to strengthen safeguards in visa programs and ensure that Americans have the first opportunity to take these jobs.  Legal immigrant workers should complement, not replace, our domestic workforce.  When carried out in this manner, legal immigrant employment can play an important role in Colorado’s economy, including the high tech, agriculture, and ski and tourism industries, among others.  A number of temporary visa programs enable these employers to draw talented and hardworking people legally and temporarily from other countries to help keep America competitive.

Nevertheless, I also believe that we can do more to train and prepare an American workforce that can meet the domestic demand for professional jobs.  Investments in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and related programs for America's youth and workforce can go a long way in providing the skills necessary to help fill these jobs domestically.  I will continue to support efforts to enhance our domestic workforce’s ability to be ready to work.

The DREAM Act

The most vulnerable among us, including children, often bear the heaviest burden while we search for solutions to our immigration challenges.  Currently, children who have been brought to this country illegally by no fault of their own, have no way to normalize their undocumented status in order to attend college or serve in the military – even if they have grown up in the United States, gone to school and demonstrated good character.  Legislation called the DREAM Act – which I support – would address this issue by allowing children who plan to pursue higher education or serve in the U.S. military to obtain temporary, conditional immigrant status if they were brought to the United States prior to their 16th birthday, have lived in the United States for at least five years and have maintained good academic and moral standing.  After 10 years, these young people could become eligible to get in line for permanent legal status, so long as they successfully complete two years at an American college or university or in the U.S. military and remain in compliance with the law.

I support strengthening border security, cracking down on illegal immigration, and implementing reforms that can fix our broken immigration system.  I also believe that children who know of no other home than the United States and have worked diligently to be successful in their young lives should have an opportunity to normalize their immigration status and to realize their potential as productive citizens.

  • Border Security

    The status quo is not an option if we want an immigration system that protects American workers, strengthens America's competitiveness, and ensures the security of our ports, borders and all points in between. Continuing to maintain operational control of our ports of entry and targeting the human trafficking, illicit trade of weapons, drugs and money remains a priority. This is why I supported recent bipartisan legislation, which provides such funding without adding to our debt. The Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR.6080/S.3721) will provide targeted funding to hire 1,500 additional Customs and Border Protection agents and supply additional technology and resources to improve interagency response to fight crime at our borders.

    While this bill will help ensure we are targeting adequate resources to fight crime at our borders and ports of entry, we still need comprehensive immigration reform that will address the overarching problems of our immigration system. I will continue to work with members of both parties to build support for a comprehensive approach to restore order to our immigration system.

     

  • Save Our Small Businesses Act

    I sponsored the Save Our Small Businesses Act to help employers find temporary workers for low-skill, non-agricultural jobs when they are unable to find these workers at home. In my view, no visa program should adversely affect American workers and every opportunity should be given to make sure these jobs are filled by domestic workers first. Still, I understand that our ski industry, tourism-based and other important businesses rely on this program to fill a niche market of seasonal workers. By keeping Coloradans at work and, when necessary, supplementing our capable workforce, we can work together to strengthen our local economies.

  • Funding Border Security

    I voted to support the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010 (P.L.111-83), which included important funding for tactical border security fencing, critical infrastructure, and technology. This legislation also included vital funding for enforcement of immigration and customs laws, detention and removals and investigations, as a part of the overall funding for the department.

  • Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act (S.205)

    I co-sponsored this bipartisan bill, which provides important resources to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to effectively enforce existing laws and combat the illegal trafficking of firearms on the U.S.-Mexico border.

  • E-Verify

    On March 10, 2009, I voted to reauthorize the E-Verify program as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (P.L. 111-8). This program will help cut down on unauthorized employees working for U.S. companies. Later the same year, on July 9, 2009, I also voted to support the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010 (H.R. 2892), which included the reauthorization of the E-Verify program for an additional three years. I understand this program is not without its flaws, and will continue working to make necessary improvements that protect American workers and help employers comply with the law.

 
Regional Offices

Northwest Region
P.O. Box 866
Clark, CO 80428
P: 303-650-7820

Central Mountain Region
P.O. Box 743
Tabernash, CO 80478
P: 303-650-7820

Northeast Region
801 8th Street
Suite 140A
Greeley, CO 80631
P: 970-356-5586

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West Slope Region
400 Rood Avenue
Suite 220
Grand Junction, CO 81501
P: 970-245-9553

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999 18th Street
Suite 1525, North Tower
Denver, CO 80202
P: 303-650-7820

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107 West B Street
Pueblo, CO 81003
P: 719-542-1701

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Four Corners Region
954 East 2nd Avenue
Suite 106
Durango, CO 81301
P: 970-247-1047

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Pikes Peak Region
2880 International Circle
Suite 107
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
P: 719-471-3993

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609 Main Street
Suite 205
Alamosa, CO 81101
P: 719-589-2101

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