Don Mares, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and Ann Morse, the Program Director of the Immigrant Policy Project for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) addressed DU’s Strategic Issues Panel on Immigration on Thursday, February 26, 2009.
Mares reminded the panel that immigration is a sign of a good country—people want to come here. However, because the federal government has failed to adequately deal with the issue, states are forced to address and deal with immigration, particularly illegal immigration.
Unfortunately, like many state departments who are forced to enforce state and national immigration laws, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has limited resources and personnel. His department has a direct role in enforcing Colorado’s HB 06-5 1017, passed during the 2006 special legislative session. The bill requires documentation and affirmation that employers have checked their employee’s immigration status. The Department of Labor is responsible for performing audits of employers. Given the Department’s lack of resources, Mares said, it focuses on employer education to assist Colorado’s employers in complying with the law.
Ann Morse of NCSL put forth the idea that state and local governments have a role in assimilating immigrants into their communities, specifically by assisting with language acquisition.
She described some of the recent state legislation re: immigration nationwide. Many states, she explained, are reacting to the federal government’s failure to reimburse them for the costs they’ve incurred in enforcing federal immigration laws. Individual states have also addressed the higher education and health care needs of illegal immigrant children. Of particular interest to states was 2005’s REAL ID Act which imposed requirements for state-issued drivers licenses and id cards.
Don Mares’ and Ann Morse’s full presentations can be viewed from the Strategic Issues Panel’s website: www.du.edu/issues
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