Colorado's immigrants [illegal aliens as well] now have more protections, benefits in state law
In a year that Sen. Julie Gonzales called “transformative” for immigrants in Colorado, lawmakers passed more than a dozen bills aimed at helping a population they say suffered disproportionally over the last year.
Several have been signed into law, including HB21-1075, repealing the use of the term “illegal alien” in state statute; HB21-1057, expanding the state’s criminal extortion law to prohibit threatening to report a person’s immigration [illegal] status to take advantage of them; HB21-1054, allowing immigrants [illegal aliens] without documentation to apply for housing assistance; and SB21-077, removing lawful presence [illegal aliens] as a requirement for professional licensing...
On Friday afternoon, Gov. Jared Polis signed four more laws to support immigrants and refugees — HB21-1150, creating the state Office of New Americans; HB21-1194, establishing an immigrant legal defense fund; SB21-199, repealing lawful presence as a requirement to receive certain public benefits; and SB21-131, protecting residents’ personal data from being shared with Immigration, Customs and Enforcement unless required by a judge....
Fifteen years ago, it was a different story, with Democrats and Republicans voting in favor of policies that were considered among the toughest in the nation on illegal immigration...
CAIRCO Research
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1075 - replace the term "illegal alien" with "worker without authorization" re public contracts for services.
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1057 - prohibition against threatening to report a person's immigration status to law enforcement
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1054 - housing assistance exception to the requirement to verify lawful presence in the United States for public benefits
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-077 - remove Lawful Presence verification credentialing
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1150 - point of contact for immigrant-serving state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public for refugees and immigrants
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1194 - creation of the immigration legal defense fund for indigent clients who are subject to an immigration proceeding.
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-199 - verification of lawful presence in the United States is not required by law, ordinance, or rule to receive benefits pursuant to a federal stimulus law.
- https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-131 - a state agency employee is prohibited from inquiring into, or requesting information or documents to ascertain, a person's immigration status for the purpose of identifying...