Sorry that I'm showing up as "Events Submit." I have my own info registered, but the system sometimes does this to me for some reason. Not trying to hide my ID. John Heckers.

I'm John Heckers of Heckers Development Group, LTD, a Denver-based Executive Coaching and Transition firm. My grandparents stowed away on a ship bound for America from Germany shortly before WW(. They were "illegal immigrants." I bet a great many of everyone's ancestors were the same. America, at that time, was a different place. My grandfather, in WWI, in exchange for spying in Germany, was given American citizenship with his family. Their "illegal immigration" resulted in much good for America, as my father entered public service, giving up a lucrative legal practice to give back to the country that welcomed his parents. I don't like the flood of illegal immigration, but I also abhor a law that allows police to stop someone "on suspicion" that they might not be a bona-fide American. This way leads to a police state...one of the very things my grandparents wound up not having to experience in Germany, which my father fought against in the Navy of our country, and which many have given up so much to prevent here and elsewhere. This is a bad law. Pressure the Federal Government to do its job, yes. Enact a hodge-podge of state laws...no. It is probably unconstitutional to do so. It is certainly bad for business to do so. And it codifies a prejudice against a segment of the population that I suspect is partially at the root of this law.

I am in favor of Senate Bill 1070, because I support LEGAL Immigration. Regardless of color, race or religion, the law has not been written for just the majority or the minority - it was written for each individual standing on American soil. Regardless of how one chooses to look at the situation, the law is the law, is it not? I agree there will be difficulty for the families. However, there is cause and effect. Illegal actions cause difficult ramifications. p.s. DPS allowing politics and not religion in their school system??? Isn't this a double standard?

The Arizona law does not address the real issue. I did not read all of already posted comment, but agree with Vicki on the most obvious points many are missing here: These people come here illegally because the US Govt. and our politicians lets them work here, even though the laws in place don't allow it. Large employers knowingly hire illegals and fight the enforcement of those laws. I am an employer with about 15 employees right now. Like all employer's I have to check EVERY employee's ID's (at least two forms) and confirm they are a legal citizen and maintain that information on file with the completed I-9 form, or I could be fined. There is a website where you can check to make sure their ID's are valid but you (the employer) are not required to use that site. Why Not!! So meat packers, corporate farms, food proccessors, etc., or others who wish to overlook these details can continue to employ illegals. If these employers obeyed the law, or were forced to, and were required to check citizenship, these people would have no reason to cross the border, right? Problem solved. Now we have allowed for decades these people to work here, their children were born here (therefore now citizens) and many have established themselves as productive "citizens." It would be cruel in my opinion to all of a sudden split of these families appart and require them to leave this contry, with their kids staying behind, - not to mention how disrupitve this would be to our economy. We need to repair the system that is already in place (but is broken, or at least unenforced) and then start enforcing the existing laws that could easily solve this problem. They would have to immigrate legally to get a job here.

OK, how about back to basics. 1. There are already a plethora of laws, federal and some state, that deal with illegal immigration. That's why it's called ILLEGAL. 2. The problem is enforcement, and money and guts to enforce. This new AZ bill seems to be yet another unfunded and gut-less law. Sure, looks good on paper, obviously caters to many who have posted on this blog, but where are the Bucks to enforce it (or will all of that money be spent defednding it up to the Supreme Court?) Is the burden on AZ's towns and cities? 3. We have laws, they can be toughened, but unless we as a country are willing to spend the money to enforce them, what good are they - or any new ones. 4. That's why in my last post I asked about the 'other' AZ law that made it illegal fpr companies to hire illegals. Nobody has responded. I wonder why.

What is it about ILLEGAL that everyone misses. DEFINITION: il·le·gal   /ɪˈligəl/ Show Spelled[ih-lee-guhl] Show IPA –adjective 1.forbidden by law or statute. 2.contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.: The referee ruled that it was an illegal forward pass. Do you abide by the laws of your city, county, state and yes the US Laws? Why should ANY illegal immagrant, regardless of their country or national origin be treated fairly if they enter the country illegally? Our ancestors had to do it that created this country and made it what it is today. If you are for letting the ILLEGAL immagrants in then you pay for them to abuse and rob us who have worked hard to get to where we are. Why aren't they fighting for the same rights they have here in their own country - march there not here.

I am totally against any undocumented person in the USA. These actions are illegal and these people must be removed from our society. No more amnesty. My rights, safety and childrens safety is being compromised by the inaction of our government. If this comes up in Colorado, the true feelings of our populous will show.

This may be a last thought for this subject, actually three last thoughts: only 3-4 years ago, AZ passed a very strong anti-illegal immigration law, making it illegal for businesses to knowingly hire illegals. Interesting, there has been little if no information about how that law has worked, or HASN'T worked - is this new law meant to toughen that law or replace it? AZ has one of the most (if not THE most) un-shy law enforcement guy in the U.S. - Joe Arpaio. So, what the heck has he been doing about all of the crime caused by drug and human smugglers? Not much, it seems: http://www.newsweek.com/id/237196 Finally, according to Mike Littwin (in Sunday's Denver Post): AZ's board of eduction has passed a new ruling: ..."banning teachers with heavy accents, those using faulty grammar, from teaching Spanish-speaking students who are learning English." Read the column here: http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_15000273

Bob Jones Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well said!! Finally, somebody who makes sence and can relate to how us business owners feel. Bravo!!!!!

To Jeff Joseph: How does an employer pay payroll taxes for an illegal employee? Isn't it against federal law? Also, how would you feel if the federal or state government turned a blind eye and allowed anybody to "represent" a client in court without their bar credentials. How would you like to compete with the non credential attorney who charges $ 75 per hour instead of $ 325 per hour because they use Abdul in India to complete their research and filings, they never attended law school, and never took the bar. That feeling you just had, that's how many American business owners feel about their competition. I bet you would be fighting like hell to get them thrown in prison too.

Kevin: It is apparent from your tone that I angered and/or offended you and that was not my intention. I apologize if my statements were offensive to you. But, I would ask you again, to back up your statements with real statistics and facts. Whether you are talking illegals or not, the statement is a generalization that has no basis in fact or statistics. So, I repeat my request, please back up your statement that "they" which you have now clarified to mean "illegal" immigrants are a "huge drain" on the economy and "taxes of which this country cannot afford." I provided you statistics showing that the contrary is true and would ask that you do the same. While it is true that there are unauthorized workers who are paid in cash, that does not mean those unauthorized workers do not pay taxes. They buy and consume goods and services and pay sales taxes. They buy cars and pay taxes on the purchase. They buy home and pay property taxes. Thanks, and I look forward to reading the statistics and facts you present.

Jeff Joseph: I took the time to read your previous posts regarding your so called "facts and statistics" and find most of your posts to be mindless banter and ramblings. In response to your last post where you tell me ("don't make generalizations"), please don't tell me what I can and cannot post. This is a free country the last time I checked. You misquote me when you say in your opening line "I would ask you to support your statement that immigrants are a huge drain on this economy and taxes of which we can no longer afford." I did not say immigrants, I said ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. If you are going to quote someone, make sure it is accurate, therefore, I don't believe your so called statistics are accurate either. In terms of my competitor hiring illegals, I know for a fact that there is plenty of sufficient U.S. workers looking for jobs in our industry, as I have them knocking on my door looking for work most days. He can certainly find authorized workers, but he chooses not to hire them because he can get cheap labor by hiring illegals instead. So while ever there are illegals in Colorado, he will continue to employ them. I agree with you in the fact that employers like him who continue to cheat at the game, yes, the penalties should be enhanced and they should go to prison. But this is the ONLY thing I agree with you on. Your "statistic" that "unauthorized immigrants pay taxes" is BS!!! What about all the illegals that get paid CASH under the table?? You can't tell me that doesn't go on! I can guarantee you that tax is not being paid on that money!! If you are correct in what you say (and I doubt it), if "unauthorized immigrants are paying taxes" why aren't they being arrested and deported?? Obviously there would be a "paper" trail back to them, and therefore they could be found and arrested. Why is this not happening?? Because I seriously doubt they pay taxes. They just sponge off the system instead! Don't try and BS me with your mind numbing blogs. I am an educated man and you may be able to baffle some people with your ramblings, but I am not buying it!! This new law in Arizona should be mandated in every state in America! The sooner the better, I say!

Mr Publisher I don't appreciate you pulling my blog. I have not been disrespectful. I have just voiced my opinion. If you aren't going to be far to both sides of the debate you should not asked people to weigh in on this issue. I think because my opinion is different to yours, you are pulling the blogs you don't agree with. That is very childish. I ask that you re-post my blog in fairness to both sides.

Old Indian saying: "Never criticize another man until you have walked in his shoes for one mile". Arizona lawmakers did what they believed they had to do in their situation. Someone has to bring this nation under control. Passing laws without enforcement provisions has become a meaningless "feel good" political gesture. We can easily take a stand against something, but rarely are we aware of all the facts! Their decision is theirs, leave them alone.

Kevin: I would ask you to support your statement that "immigrants are a huge drain on this economy and taxes of which we can no longer afford." While I agree that there are unauthorized immigrants who sap the system by taking welfare and committing fraud, I do not think you can make the generalization you make that immigrants (documented or undocumented) are a huge drain on the system. Consider the previous facts and statistics I gave in a previous post regarding the economic impact of immigrants on the state of Colorado. These statistics are objective and based largely on the U.S. census and bipartisan research. But consider the following additional facts: Legal immigrants comprised 11.4% of the state’s workforce in 2007 (or 303,048 workers), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Unauthorized immigrants comprised ONLY 5.4% of the state’s workforce (or 150,000 workers) in 20 2008, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center. Arizona has a direct strategy. The strategy is to squeeze immigrants (legal and illegal) out of the state by making life miserable. This is the clear objective. Despite the racial cleansing overtones of such a strategy which I will not go into. I would like you to consider the economic impacts such an attrition policy would have on our state: If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Colorado, the state would lose $8.0 billion in expenditures, $3.6 billion in economic output, and approximately 39,738 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman 21 Group. Additionally, despite your statement that they are a huge drain on the economy, unauthorized immigrants pay taxes. 􀂾 Unauthorized immigrants in Colorado paid between $159 million and $194 million in state and local taxes in 2005, according to a study by the Bell Policy Center, which includes: • $24 million to $30 million in state income taxes. • $10 million to $13 million in property taxes. • $125 million to $151 million in sales taxes. 􀂾 In addition, Colorado employers paid between $12 million and $15 million in unemployment insurance taxes to the state on behalf of unauthorized workers in 2005, according to the same study. I am happy to consider any facts or statistics you have to the contrary, but please don't make generalizations that immigrants are a "huge drain" on the system without research to back it up. As far as the competition and the fact that your competitors rely on illegal immigration. I agree with you 100%. And again, for that reason, I ask you to join the cause for immigration reform. If employers across the board cannot find sufficient U.S. workers, the default workforce becomes unauthorized workers. That means that employers like you, who play by the rules, are at a disadvantage. We need a system that provides ALL employers with a legal and ready workforce so that everyone is on an equal playing field. You should not have to compete against people who break the law. Everyone should have to play the same game, and then, if there are employers who continue to cheat at the game, the penalties should be enhanced and they should go to prison. But, as long as the system is broken, and U.S. workers are not available, your competitors will continue to undercut you and will continue to rely on an illegal labor force. So, join the cause. Contact your congresspersons. Tell them your story. But rather than blame the workers, blame the system. Blame congress for failure to fix the system. Tiffany: With regard to laws that are convenient to break. You miss the point. The immigration laws do not make sense. They do not meet the needs of employers, and they are completely unworkable. If the speed limit on the highway were 15 miles per hour, who would follow the law? The point is if the law is not workable, it needs to be fixed. That is the job of our representatives and senators. You can't continue to sit back and complain about "illegal aliens" when the system itself is the root cause.

I support this bill and the rights of each state to enact such laws if they deem fit. Hooray for the law-abiding citizens! For those who oppose, there are some other laws out there that would be mighty convenient to break - can you offer me the same lack of enforcement as with illegal immigration -- and yes, it is illegal. Become a citizen legally or accept the consequences.

I have to say that I fully support this new law in Arizona and only pray and hope that they bring it to Colorado too! I am a business owner here in Denver and happily employ in my business, Latinos who reside in America LEGALLY . I find them to be very hard working and nice people. I don't have a problem with anybody moving to our great nation, but I do have a problem with ANYONE of any color being here illegally. They are a huge drain on our system and taxes of which this country can no longer afford. Unfortunately, a competitor of mine does not share the same values as me and employees illegals to work in his business. There is no way that I am able to compete with him on pricing when we are bidding the same job, as he only pays his illegal works a fraction of what I have to pay mine, so his overheads are a lot lower than mine. The sad thing is, if this situation continues, I could be forced out of business. You can't tell me illegals aren't hurting this country!! It's a sad day in America when a citizen who was born and raised in this great country could be forced out of business because of illegal immigrants. If they were to bring in this law here, there would be a lot less illegals working in Denver stealing the jobs and my competitor would be forced to employ legal residents and pay them what the law states. We would then be on the same playing field price wise. Wake up America and smell the coffee before it is too late!

"Illegals are doing jobs Americans will not do is a fallacy argument" - sorry, Mr. Jones, it's not a fallacy. Just ask any of the fruit growers in Mesa County, they'll all tell you the same thing. They would like to hire Americans but the migrant - and generally legal - immigrants are the ones who show up to do the job. And, they do a good job. Just think: until the early 1980s, Mesa County schools often began the school year after consulting with the fruit growers. If the harvest was late, high school openings were delayed or special allowance was made for those of us working in the orchards. Can you imagine that happening now? No way, the kids today will not do that kind of work - neither will their parents.

Illegals are doing jobs Americans will not do is a fallacy argument, specifically appeal of consequences of a belief. How do you know that if illegals didn't do those jobs that Americans would not accept them? I would argue that the wages in those jobs would increase and attract Americans or the employers would find new ways to do the work. I hope the administrators at Denver Public School enjoy their 15 minutes of fame regarding the boycott. I am sure there are far more people boycotting their school system than we will ever know. I wonder how many DPS students know where Arizona is on a US map.

Murri - I apologize. Didn't mean to patronize. I should have edited better, for I only wanted you to understand my business message. I encourage you to weigh in on that if you would...

Mark, I don't. You are far too volatile. Peace out just means see ya or ciao or goodbye. So, Good Evening, is that better? Ahhh, the assumptions we make......

Mr. Jones, You are patronizing the wrong person! And, don't call me dear, either and think that makes your venom any sweeter. How presumptuous of you to assume I would consider you as "friend" material. I don't know you and likewise you don't know me- so please stop with the familiarity. Talk about inappropriate! Because you own a window company doesn't mean you are the only business worthy person here... I was trying to say in a polite way that I didn't understand what you were trying to convey. Is that so terrible? doesn't mean I am unworthy of posting my comments. Get a grip!

Murri: And you have the nerve to say my comment about the bandaid was ridiculous! then you say "Peace out"!! Let me guess...you support the legalization of marijuana too! I am not wasting my time with you anymore.

Murri - Shame on you, dear. We are trying to have a business discussion here. I live in a colorless world - you would be thrilled to have me as a friend, or the cop walking the beat in your neighborhood becasue I'm fair. Please leave your hurtful and personal comments off this listing. You dimminish yourself in playing your race card and calling others names. Have you read all my posts and understood their business nature? Jeff - I love you, man. I agree with you on most things. Two comments. I think some things are privileges of citizenship and of proper application for citizenship. Entrepreneurship is one for me. Got a green card? Open a business. Fine. Sneak in? No. Second, statistics are for folks like Murri who cheer them without analysis. Surely we don't know how much of those numbers would have been produced by legal immigrants alone, or was by illegals as a part. When I say colorless, I mean it. The whole idea of keeping and studying, even relying on them gives me the creeps. And comparisons to Asians? How about African Americans? What are these statistics trying to say? Let's get together on worker permits. And let's not dishonor the other posters here and citizens elsewhere who have gone properly through the channels to citizenship. Hooray, America!

The Arizona state legislature, and the govenor, should hang there heads in shame for passing, and signing, such a law.

Great Facts comment was for Jeff Joseph.

Mark: I am not and have not been addressing those that are in the country illegally. I am addressing people like me that ARE here legally(birth or otherwise) and will be subjected to this treatment because someone believes them to be suspciously illegal. You are obviously angry about something! Your bandaid reference is ridiculous! Please reference Jeff Joseph's comments. He is very eloquent and fact based in his asertions. I strongly agree with him . I simply have been reacting to the potential for this legislation's impact on innocent, law abiding, legal citizens like myself and my family. Whatever your situation is-is! No judgement there on my part. Please do not judge me either. We both have the right to an opinion. I am commenting on how it will affect me. You don't have to agree with it just as I don't agree with your viewpoint. I am not trying to convert you to my side- only expressing my thoughts. Peace Out....

I cannot believe the vitriol that I've been reading all day on this blog. Here's why I cannot support the AZ law, as both a business owner and an American. First, I cannot imagine a worse business climate for bringing in visitors from other countries - heck, even from other states - that may not pass AZ's "race test." I can hear the directives: "If you walk around downtown or even go down to the lobby of your hotel, make sure you have all of your proper papers. Don't forget your wallet or purse - not even for a minute! Even if you're an American!" And as an American? My husband is Hispanic. His family are direct descendants of Spanish Land Grantees. That's right, they OWNED most of the land in AZ and New Mexico. Added to that, he's disabled, he frequently forgets his wallet - or I have it in my bag when we're playing tourist. Imagine my worst nightmare - we're in AZ and he goes to the restroom in a restaurant. A cop asks for his ID and he panics, can't find me. You know what's interesting, when we visit a foreign country, I am very mindful of where he is at all times and I maKe certain he has his ID with his at all times. But in our own country? In the U.S.A.? Never worried about it before. AZ has just become a Communist state. Period.

I support Arizona,and I believe a state should stand behind and lead the way for its legal citizens. As you said Bart, "Take responsibility for your opinion – represent your brand. In this case make an argument that you and your company are willing to stand by in public." They did indeed.

Great facts. Well said.

Murri: Let me clear up a few misrepresentations from you about what I said. First af all, I did not and do not ask for your apology. Second of all, yes, it is illegal to be driving a car drunk, but so is living in this country by sneeking across the border like a snake and not paying your taxes. Check the law my friend. Thirdly, you assume that these people are going to have to "endure bad treatment" (your words)if they get stopped. So, are you profiling now by saying that all officals will be corrupt and mean and treat latinos badly? I smell double standards here. You also say that you suspect that I would not be impacted by this. Really!! Are you profiling again, assuming that I am white or some other race other than Latino? You are full of contradictions. My wife is not a citizen of this country but she came here legally. Please don't assume you know me or my nationally and that this doesn't affect my family or me. This new law is what is best for the country and it's legal residents and citizens. You know....it's like havng a bandaid on a cut when you were young and you mother pulls it off fast. It only stings for a little bit, but it's best in the long run.

Les: I beg to differ. Have you been out to dinner in Denver lately? Have you seen the janitorial staffs at hotels and office buildings? Have you been to a Greeley dairy farm or to the sugarbeet fields? The fact is that immigrants (legal and illegal) are doing the jobs Americans won't do. I am not trying to hide the ball on anything. It is naieve to think otherwise. And are they starting businesses? Yes, absolutely. But how can we possibly, with a straight-face in this economy discourage entrepeneurs from creating businesses? If they create businesses, they create jobs. If they create jobs, they create employment. If they create employment, they boost the economy. And, while we are on the subject lets talk about the sheer economic power that immigrants bring to the state of Colorado. The 2008 purchasing power of Colorado’s Latinos totaled $21 billion—an increase of 427.3% since 1990. Asian buying power totaled $4.8 billion—an increase of 521.1% since 1990, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia. Colorado’s 24,054 Latino-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $5.1 billion and employed 32,465 people in 2002, the last year for which data is available. The state’s 10,910 Asian-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $2.5 billion and employed 21,343 people in 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners. If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Colorado, the state would lose $8.0 billion in expenditures, $3.6 billion in economic output, and approximately 39,738 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group. http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/New Americans in the Centennial State 2009.pdf I am just as much in favor of legal immigration as you are. That is the problem. There is no legal channel for the vast majority of the foreign workforce. There is NO VISA CATEGORY AT ALL for year-round non-agricultural jobs that do not require a four year degree. This means that for 75% of the entire job force there is no visa category. So, the default, in the absence of U.S. workers is illegal immigration. That has to change. We need a guest worker program that will allow lesser skilled workers to enter the U.S. to fill jobs in our system taht cannot be filled by U.S. workers.

Les: I apologize in advance. I simply don't know what you are trying to say to me. It seems random or out of context or something. No dis-respect intended. I am simply for people being stopped if they are breaking established laws- not being stopped for appearing to be "illegal". Your statement that includes" we suspect with cause? It is brown skin, a certain stature or carriage, and suspicious behaviors that will arouse suspicion of an illegal that may have crossed the border illegally" is so racist I shudder to believe you espouse such sentiment. Oh well, I sure hope you are never in a position to do the stopping. Now, that's a scary thought....

Food for my reasonings, from the AP: http://www.thefoxnation.com/arizona-immigration-law/2010/04/29/ap-illegal-immigrants-plan-leave-over-az-law

With all due respect to your profession and experience, Jeff, when will you understand that we don't profile, we suspect with cause? It is brown skin, a certain stature or carriage, and suspicious behaviors that will arouse suspicion of an illegal that may have crossed the border illegally. (I'm sure we could take out the AZ ambiguities, and let only uniformed officers ask for IDs in the CO version). And you know these folks filling neighborhoods in Denver are not onion-pickers. They are starting businesses. Carpet cleaning. Fence-building. Things we like to do for profit. You lose credibility when you don't acknowledge the width and breadth of the problems caused by these people who have sneaked into our country to steal our wealth and zeal. Why wouldn't they pack up and sneak back south if we begin to enforce our laws? Let them return legally like the immigrants we proudly call naturalized citizens. We need them here, they are fine people with wonderful family relationships through multiple generations (look at Sloans Lake park on weekends - they share love and fun.) But want them to revere US citizenship, not pretend they're still in Mexico. And Murri, when will you accept that an undocumented worker is actually being abused by those who trade his cheap labor cost for their profit and the defeat of competitors who hire Americans and pay good wages? Is his broken body at 50 years, his family unprotected by disability or life insurance or Social Security, his children who harbor anger at our "system" or our "racism" satisfactory to you? Will you accept them in this "illegal" condition just so we can protect you from your fears? You will never suffer as they have, or as elements in our economy have; I think your inconveniences will be trivial. And Bart, it's bad business legislation? Come again? Are you saying CEOs think illegals are good for business? The very reason I say they should not be your meter in this controversy! Best, Les

In 1960 I drove from Georgia to California. As I passed through Arizona I was stopped by the Arizona State Police at a random check point established in the middle of the desert. I was asked to show my driver's license and then was allowed to proceed. Later I realized that the state patrol was looking for illegal aliens. The problem of illegals has only gotten worse since then. My wife is a former German citizen. When she came to the US her aunt and uncle had to post a bond that she would not become a ward of the state and that they would provide for all her medical needs. She had a green card and had to report her location along with a fee to ICE every year. When she became a citizen, she had to pass an English fluency test along with demonstrating her knowledge of the Constitution and a rudimentary knowledge of the US history. She passed both tests with 100 % by the way. This is the correct path to citizenship. Learning a second language is not all that difficult. Three of my children became scholastically competetive in a French speaking Swiss elementary school after only 3 months of total immersion. I learned enough German to write and defend a PhD thesis after 1 1/2 years of study at a German university that is equivalent technically to Cal Tech or MIT. I am incensed at the lengths we go to in the US to accomodate people who do not know and are unwilling to learn English. With this background I am totally sympathetic to the law passed in Arizona and we plan to vacation in the state this year. If asked, I will proudly affirm my citizenship of the wonderful country.

Cliff: I am curious about your statement that "it may be the ones that are against this law are all here illegally and stealing jobs that could put legal Americans back to work?" Which jobs are being stolen by "illegals" exactly? If you think that Americans are waiting in line to pick onions, milk cows, clean dishes, bus your tables, pack your meat . . .the list goes on and on, you are living in a different America than I.

I believe it's about time we start enforcing our immigration laws just like we enforce our traffic,theft or any crimes. If someone is in our country illegally they should be dealt with according to our laws. If someone wants to ask me for proof that I am a citizen of America I will be PROUD to do so. It may be the ones that are against this law are all here illegally and stealing jobs that could put legal Americans back to work.

Mark, Mark, Mark! I'll give you your own sage advice-Get over yourself! It is easy to hide, without providing your last name and condemn others as being weak, unpatriotic and whatever other labels you care to spew. I absolutely owe you or no one else any apologies for my opinions!!! I agree with you in relation to drunk drivers. This, however, is not the same thing. Drunk driving is illegal. Looking illegal is not. There will be some who are stopped that deserve to be stopped. Many will be stopped that do not deserve to be stopped. As for "they will get over it", why should anyone have to endure bad treatment and simply get over it? It is racist no matter what you say. I suspect you would not be impacted by this, so based on that assumption I can only conclude you have no basis to criticize me. You don't know me, nor do I know you. I ask only for respect for having a different opinion. Isn't that what the publisher asked- to provide our opinions- not endure insults and accusations of not caring about the country, not being patriotic etc. That's just silly. We are probably more alike in that category than you care to believe. I simply believe this is wrong, plain and simple.

Leeann: You miss the point. You are required to carry your LPR card at all times just like I am required to carry my drivers license at all times on the road. There is no problem with that. The problem comes in the broad authority that the Arizona law gives public officials (I would note these do not need to be law enforcement officials. It extends to public librarians, park rangers, others) to ASK for that status on "reasonable suspicion" that you are not lawfully present. I can GUARANTEE you that as a white person with green eyes, there will be less "reasonable suspicion" about my lawful status than a Spanish speaking, dark haired, dark-skinned person. That is the problem.

To Jeff Joseph: I am not a citizen of this country but I am a legal alien with a green card. When I moved here LEGALLY, the legal requirement was that I am to carry my Greencard on my person at all times. I would not and do not have a problem at all if I were to be pulled over and asked to provide my documentation. I have done it before. I don't see the problem??

Bravo, Jeff Joseph! Very well said!

To Murri: I cannot disagree with you more! So your telling me that if someone who is say...driving a car who LOOKS drunk shouldn't be pulled over solely on the fact that he LOOKS drunk? He may get offended and have his feelings hurt because he was pulled over solely because he LOOKS drunk. He should be aloud to continue driving drunk so he can eventually run a red light and kill someone! Is that what America has come to?? So many people are so concerned about having their feelings hurt these days that they will be willing to put America in jeopardy just so nobody gets offended. This PC crap has got to stop!!! There is a huge problem in Arizona, Colorado, California and many more states and the fact is most of the illegals are Hispanic!! You can sugar coat it all you like and say that legals will be stopped as well as illegals and get offended, but so what!! They will get over it. Do you think for a second that our for-fathers who founded this great country were this weak? Not on your life. Back then our leaders where willing to make the tough decision and follow through with it. Back then our country was not in any debt, we were one of the most prosperous countries in the world and we didn't have a quarter of the taxes we have today. They were tough men and women who got the job done and weren't afraid of offending anyone. Today our country has become weak and vulnerable because of people like you. I seriously question your loyalty to this great nation. Get over yourself.

I am an immigration attorney who represents individuals, families and businesses in meeting their immigration needs. I am opposed to the Arizona law because it will create racial profiling. Police will be allowed to ask people for proof of legal status based on "reasonable suspicion." However, this is not a black and white issue. There are literally hundreds of thousands of individuals who are in perfectly legal status, but will not be able to demonstrate it by the production of a document. Let me give you a few examples: (1) People with applications for extension of visa status that are pending. Their current visa has expired, but given government backlogs, they are allowed to stay while the petition is pending. (2) Students are admitted for duration of status. They do not have an expiration date on their visa or I-94. (3) Applicants who have applications for adjustment of status pending. They are in a period of stay authorized by the attorney general but will not have a document to prove it. (4) individuals who have conditional green cards and have filed to remove the conditions, but have not yet received the actual card. THe law is not black or white, and, unfortunately for Arizona, it will become an issue of brown or white. Despite the sophisticated nuances of what constitutes "legal status," I am opposed to the very principle that I should have to carry papers around to prove my right to be in Arizona. I would have had the same objections to carrying papers during times of slavery to prove that I was a free man. I would have had the same objections during Nazi Germany to carrying papers to prove that I was one of the "chosen" race. Arizona has no business jumping into something that is in the domain of the federal government. While I agree 100% that the federal government must act, and act NOW, the states cannot do something over which they have no expertise, training or jurisdiction. I am in support of a very strong and secure border. But no border is going to fix the ultimate problem. We need a system that creates a legal, orderly way for workers to come here to meet the needs of the economy and to provide workers for those employers who are unable to fill those jobs with American workers. We need to address the enormous backlogs in family and employment based visas that make families and employers wait (sometimes decades) to be reunited with family members or workers. We need a system that requires people to come out of the shadows, forces them to register, requires them to learn English, pay a penalty and puts them on a path to regularization in our country. This makes sense from an economic standpoint and is critical to economic stimulus. It would allow individuals to obtain social security numbers, open bank accounts, pay taxes, buy property and stimulate economic sectors. It would provide small businesses with a labor force and prevent small businesses from going under. Scott McInnis, as usual is focusing on the wrong issue and asking the wrong question. The question is not whether Colorado should follow the ways of Arizona on a state level. The real question is whether the entire Colorado legislative contingent is willing to have the guts to take up the issue of immigration reform on a national level and get it done. The Arizona law is a racist red herring.

To Mark: It is the very fact that you can be profiled, singled out for any reason or no reason at all! It is an insult, not to mention very degrading to be subjected to this treatment when it is for no other reason than you look a certain way- for gosh sakes!! I can certainly prove I am a US citizen- but I shouldn't have to worry about this potential hassle because of the way I look. This isn't going to happen only to true "illegal" persons. It can happen to anyone that LOOKS "illegal"- whatever that means to whomever is allowed to make these stops and demands for proof. If you have never experienced disparate treatment because of your ethnicity you obviously do not know of what I speak. Those who have can not object loudly enough! As I said, it is easy to agree with the merits of this action if it has little chance of impacting you adversely.

Not only do I agree with the new Arizona law, I believe it does not go far enough. I don't understand the people that think this is racial profiling. If 95% of the illegals are from Mexico, then they are Mexicans correct? It is what it is! It is not profiling, it's the truth!! They will not be targeted because they are Mexican's, they will be targeted because they are illegal! And rightfully so. I am not a citizen of this country, but I came here LEGALLY!!!! I pay my TAXES!! I abide by the LAW!! I have to tell you that I take great offense to the leaches that come here ILLEGALLY and free load off everyone else that are hard working TAX PAYERS!! They get everything handed to them at the expense of tax payers, ahead of me who did the right thing and came here legally. Isn't that discrimination against me? I am so sick and tired of people getting their feelings hurt if anyone dares say or do something they don't like. The political correctness in this country is what is going to be it's down fall. The rest of the world is laughing at us and the illegals must think that we are idiots for letting them get away with this for so long. No wonder they just keep on coming! They must think America is a joke. An easy way to stop the influx of illegals, is to stop making it so easy for them. STOP free medical. STOP free handouts. STOP anchor babies. STOP press "1" for English. You will find if this happens, they will leave on their own accord. Problem solved. They only come here illegally because WE let them. If this problem is not addressed now and quickly, America will be in a world of hurt in the near future. We are no longer the world power that we once were and are headed for financial ruin if something is not done. I think that this new law should be introduced in every state in America and fast!!!

I believe it is about time that someone has what it takes to stand up and do the right thing for America. If we were to go into another country illegally and protest that their government was not doing enough for us. We would be picked up and put in jail. Look at what happens when our people wander across a border and get picked up and thrown in jail for being spies. We have had enough of the illegals coming in, using our hospital for free, and claiming their newborn child as American. WHICH THEY ARE NOT!!!! It is time that American stands up and is counted again.

If you are a legal resident and look Hispanic and are here legally, why would you be worried if you get questioned? You can produce your ID and be on your way. You only have something to worry about if your ILLEGAL.

It is quite easy to "rah-rah" the Arizona legislation when it isn't likely to impact you! I am Hispanic and look Hispanic! I was born in Colorado, am college educated, a former Comcast executive and worry that I will be stopped and hassled if this becomes a reality in Colorado. My daughter is a freshman at CU, Leeds School of Business. She was on the Dean's list last semester. She is beautiful, bright and accomplished. She looks very Hispanic too. My husband is not Hispanic. My younger daughter doesn't look Hispanic. They probably don't have to worry. Others in my family are similarly situated- US citizens, college educated, law abiding- but look very Hispanic. This is very scary territory! We could be stopped and hassled for good reason or no reason at all. Like I said, it is easy and safe to agree with this tactic if there is no likelihood it will inconvenience or terrorize you. Some of us are not convinced this will be administered in a polite, calm way in all instances. I am a Republican. I earlier placed a call to volunteer at Scott McGinnis' campaign offices. I'm sure not going to do that now!

Les, thanks for the comments. My question relates to whether the business community supports similar legislation - and why. As a business owner I respect your position. Obviously you believe it's a first step toward establishing a more sound economy. The suggestion that liberal CEO's won't do what's right for America because they don't support this law is something I don't agree with. I suspect many liberal and conservative CEO's won't support it because they believe its bad business legislation. And as such, bad for America. Loved your last line though - as did the editors.

Denver Public Schools will announce today a ban on all work-related travel to AZ "stemming from the state's new identity-document law" The formal announcement is today, Thursday, at 1:45. More fallout from the law and fuel for the debate - thoughts? Thanks for responding with name and company.

I’m a CEO, a CPA, a DU grad, a quiet, loyal, law-abiding citizen. I own Egret Windows, a great brand, an ethical and upright company. I want the Arizona law in Colorado. When I worked in commercial construction, I noted the decline in quality in masonry construction and industry wages and unionization due to the presence of illegals. My family’s trucking business is gone (50 year union company); illegals drive the trucks in Denver today, without benefits or good wages. If you think about it, I’m sure you can determine why their children are very angry with us. My brother is a tenured professor who develops new teachers. He’s alarmed by the New Orleans “teacher shortage” response: import young non-certified “teachers” from the Philippines, crowd them into rental housing (six to a room he said), and pay them 75% of the wages paid to the American teachers who remain. Sound familiar? The Arizona law will in Colorado will not create unemployment, it will encourage more employment, and higher wages too. We have traded our economy for what’s cheaper to buy today (labor). Does that not inflame you more than the image of an alleged law-breaker being asked for his ID? The Arizona law is not grandstanding. IT is historic, and points to a state’s alarming burdens courtesy of the Federal government’s blind eye. For me, it is more a blow to relativists who believe their thinking is all that is valid, and that those they observe, the productive ones, are ignorant and need to be lead. All I’m lead to is contemplation about Denver being a too-huge sanctuary for third-world non-invitees, whose congregation has been encouraged by local relativists who wantonly ignore our laws. Bart, I’m sorry you abhor the Arizona law. I’m sorrier that certain Americans have replaced words in their everyday language: resident for citizen; global interest for national interest; unity for sovereignty; social justice and welfare for productivity and self-worth. We dawdle: our laws support our society. Should we ignore the problem, now crippling to our society and economy, of the millions of illegals from Mexico, or fill our hearts with angst about racial profiling (which by the way is not a crime) or production of citizenship papers (which is hardly search and seizure)? We must push for reformed guest worker administration, not amnesty. Let’s clear our heads of our hearts, and let justice for all uniformly prevail. And who’s to say that legitimate brown-skinned American citizens wouldn’t be very proud to produce their papers when asked? I say ‘Viva Cesar Chavez!’ and celebrate a man known to carry dimes to make calls to report illegals who would take the jobs of the farm workers he championed. PS - Your CEO letter requirement is a straw man. Half of our big-company CEOs are liberal, and more will protect their stock options or tax loopholes by cooperating with a liberal government regime before standing up for what’s best for America. They are not the signal callers of our economy. Tough guys and gals like me are.

How some one (Jerry)could think it violates the Constitution for a State to pass a law that says we should obey the Federal Laws that require people of another country to be here legally is amazing. I have lived about half time in Mexico for the past 15 years, if I were found to be in Mexico with out my proper papers and my visa, I would spend immediate time in a Mexican prison (and they aren't nice places). Mexicans are wonderful and hardworking people, the majority of the Mexicans I know in Mexico, think we're crazy for allowing the open borders and they blame the open borders for encouraging the drug traffic which is causing so much trouble there (and here). (I'm in Colorado as I write this.) I would support every state in following Arizona's lead, except why do we need a state law to enforce already established Federal Laws? Norm

I believe the law in Arizona is going in the right direction. After awhile you have to get tired of talking about this problem year after year with no solution. What is wrong with the new law? We have a problem that needs to be addressed. I have no problem with people moving to this country as long as it is done by the law. Why do others never worry about the rights of citizens of this country. Seems we don't matter. If thats the case maybe you don't need all the tax money i pay every year.

I have no problem with arresting someone here illegally if picked up in a situation such as a traffic violation or any interaction with the police. But for police to stop people just because they "look" like they are illegal, which means they look Latino or Hispanic, is not acceptable. Here in the western United States we have lots of people whose families were here in what is now the US for longer than any of us of European descent's families have been here. For them to be stopped merely for their ethnicity is completely and utterly wrong. For someone who was born here but now all of a sudden must carry and show more than a driver's license to prove they are, in fact, a citizen, is unreasonable and, dare I say it, unAmerican.

Oh, well, NOW the discussion has taken an intellectual turn. "Towbar heads"? "Prince of Bend Over"? Too bad you can't actually talk about the issues, with respect.

It is clear that Arizona has violated the U.S. Constitution with this knee jerk response. My grandparents came to this country in the early 1900s from Norway and Wales. I grew up in a small coal mining town in Montana, many of whose residents came from Italy, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Finland, Scotland and other European countries. They came here for a new life in America. Many of their family members still spoke their native languages and broken English, and my friends frequently were bi-lingual. These many backgrounds enriched all of us, and the entire town annually celebrated our diverse ethnic neighbors and friends in its enlightened Festival of Nations. Mexico's drug cartels have turned the country into a literal war zone that grows each day. It is no wonder that many more Mexican citizens now want to escape to the "safety" of America before the ugly slaughter gets to them. The U.S. must take a humanistic approach to the immigrant problem that adheres to the laws, Constitution and compassion of our nation. What Arizona has done is to legalize potential gestapo tactics in the "Land of the Free." What ethnic group or religion is next? I am ashamed that this is happening in the United States.

Thanks for the comments - and Scott thank you for weighing in as a business owner - with full disclosure.

Oh yeah. This is the Colorado BIZ forum. Not the Colorado Constitutional Forum.

I strongly agree with Arizona. How can it be unconstitutional, when we are talking people that are here illegally? What rights do they have if they are here without proper documentation. It seems to be a free for all when they are able to reap the benefits of hard working tax payers, and they have done nothing for it. Try going to a foreign country and receive the same benefits, it won't happen. Why should it be a "given" in the United States? The government talks a "big talk" when it comes to securing our borders and immigration, yet nothing is ever done to make sure it happens. I think it's about time someone stood up and said "Enough". I am all for it.

How clever. Questioning my "loyalty". All too common, when issues like this come up, sad to say. I believe I proved my loyalty in South-East Asia in 1969. Nonetheless, nothing I wrote earlier should be misconstrued or extrapolated upon to mean I do not believe in securing our borders. To the contrary, I think a fence or wall (whether virtual, actual or a combination thereof) is a very good idea. Stop the flood, then deal - honorably and in accord with our established Constitutional principles - with the undocumented among us. What I wrote previously addresses one specific point about Arizona's new law: that it is so ambiguously written, it opens up manifold possibilities for abuse, both unintentional and intentional. Cops are only human, after all. I stand completely by what I wrote. I do not question your Loyalty to America for supporting this law, as awful as I think it is. Please do not question mine for opposing it. That sort of thing simply avoids the important issues and wanders off into hyperbole and, at its worst, demagoguery.

For me, it comes down to 2 things: 1) obeying the laws of this country and 2) "an ethnic segment of our country" supporting this country in enforcing these laws if they want to remain here. I'm being very generic, of course, not specific. I would certainly not profess that everyone of an ethnic segment leave. I am saying that if someone is here legally, uphold the laws. Don't support or invite "illegals" into the country. If people are here illegally, it's illegal. If an ethnic segment has a large portion of it's population here illegally and doesn't want to be profiled, then encourage those who are here illegally to either follow the prescribed laws to become legal or leave. Don't encourage more to come here illegally. Of course, doing so makes those who support the infrastructure with their time, money and resources angry when people are draining them illegally. With regards to supporting a law similar to Arizona's in Colorado, it would seem that if the impact is to the people of Colorado and our communities and lifestyle, and those of us here legally see it as a problem, we have the right to preserve our heritage and our State. That is what Arizona has done, in my mind.

Anyone who doesn't believe we have a right to protect our borders and to root out illegal aliens must have their loyalty to our country questioned. We punish law-breakers. Those who come here illegally are law-breakers. Do you think other countries wouldn't detain you, then deport you? You're fooling yourself if you think otherwise. Thank God for Arizona. Now let us (a sanctuary state) do the same. Enough is enough.

The illegal immigrant numbers (head count and cost to the US) are so large and so out of control no one wants to face the reality -- they actually seem to believe if you just let a bad situation continue and keep spreading then it will go away or something (try doing that with cancer). It's craziness. It took one governor (AZ) to finally admit to what was real and now she gets crucified for making it a crime to do something illegal? Where has sanity gone? The country of Mexico is now trying to GUILT us because we want to simply protect what we have earned - an American identity and heritage - and we are still 100 times more generous than that country is to inbound immigrants. The Gov of AZ is absolutely right in simply APPLYING what is already the law - America better stand up for itself or there will be nothing left to stand up for in a decade or two from now.

I know without a doubt that we need to stop the breaking of our laws. Illegal immigrants have placed a huge financial burden on all US citizens. Our Federal prisons contain 25% illegal immigrants. They drive without licenses and insurance. They need bilingual teachers which burden our school budgets. They get free, but very expensive medical care at our hospitals. Where and when will this stop?

Not only do I agree with the law I do not think that it goes far enough. The federal and state governments have been lax in inforcing the immigration laws that we already have. The state of Colorado has no business issueing a drivers license to anyone that is not a legal resident of this state or has the proper authorization to be here. Any business that imployes undocumented workers should be shut down. Robert Frost said "good fences make good neighbors." It is still true now if we cannot defend our borders we cannot defend this nation. Push 1 for english is as far as we need to go. This is the first immigrant population that cannot or is unwilling to learn english as their first language. One of our painters came here from Germany in the early 60's he was told in school that he had one year to catch up after that he was graded the same as someone that was born here. He didn't have a problem with that and he still speaks German when he gets together with other people that speak German. In 2005 former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm spoke to an immigration-overpopulation conference in Washington, DC. At that time he laid out a 6 point plan for destroying America from within. It seems that most of what Governor Lamm said about this issue is comming true. The immigrant population is almost the majority in California. Is it any wonder that California is in the finacial trouble that it is? Scott Kennerly Kennerly Construction

I believe the law to be pernicious, unconstitutional and an expression of some of the worst strains of American culture ... both political and social. The ambiguity that is purposefully written into this law is rife with possibilities for abuse. Of course, it also gives the perpetrators of the thing wiggle room to say, oh no, this won't lead to instances of racial profiling or unlawful search and seizure. I disagree. Completely. Does anyone actually think this bill is aimed at anyone other than Latinos? Chinese, perhaps? Irish? No. It is unconstitutional, and it will be struck down in court. Sooner rather than later, too.

It's about time someone did something about imgration, I'm in total support of Arizona. What most people don't understand is that our healthcare and gonvernment services support all people in the US. whether they are legal or not and pay for these services. Not only that, it needs to be fair for all emigrates to the US, whether Mexican, Russian, Polish, etc. Wake up folks, or you will be the one in the poor house!