Tom Tancredo offers his own Colorado Compact on Immigration Fairness

Colorado Compact for Immigration FAIRNESS

If "fairness" is one key test for immigration policy, then the fairness standard must be applied to all six constituencies affected by immigration law -- immigrants legal and illegal, taxpayers, employers, workers, and the public at large. All citizens are "stakeholders," not only employers and immigrants.

THE COLORADO COMPACT FOR IMMIGRATION FAIRNESS IS AN ATTEMPT TO OUTLINE A PATH FORWARD ON IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT RESPECTS BOTH THE RULE OF LAW AND ELEMENTARY FAIRNESS OF ALL COLORADANS.

Federal Responsibility
Since immigration law is inescapably a federal responsibility, we urgeColorado's congressional delegation to support federal immigration law that improves our immigration system, EMBODIES PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE WAITED MANY YEARS TO ENTER OUR COUNTRY LAWFULLY, keeps our communities safe, and protects our borders.

ADDITIONALLY, TO RECOGNIZE AND FORTIFY CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY OVER IMMIGRATION LAW, WE FURTHER URGE OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO EXPRESS STRONG OPPOSITION TO FEDERAL AGENCY ADMINISTRATIVE EDICTS IN IMMIGRATION MATTERS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS.
 
Strengthening Our Economy
Colorado is best served by a free market philosophy that maximizes individual freedom and opportunity. Our immigration system must be flexible enough to address the needs of businesses while protecting the interests of ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING WORKERS VICTIMIZED BY WAGE SUPPRESSION. This includes a visa system that is both responsive and effective at meeting the demands of our economy AND IS FAIR TO UNEMPLOYED WORKERS DENIED JOBS DUE TO ILLEGAL WORKERS HIRED AT LOWER WAGES. It should also acknowledge and balance both the economic contributions AND TAXPAYER COSTS WHICH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS MAKE AS WORKERS, TAXPAYERS, CONSUMERS AND CLIENTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY NET PROGRAMS.
 
Inspiring Our National Security
We believe that maintaining the safety and security of the United States is THE utmost priority. ABOVE ALL, our immigration system must insure the protection of our communities and national borders, A PRIORITY THAT CAN ONLY BE MADE CREDIBLE TY DEMONSTRATED BORDER SECURITY IN ADVANCE OF ANY GRANT OF LEGAL STATUS TO UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS ALREADY RESIDENT IN OUR COUNTRY.

Family
Strong families are critical to developing successful individuals and cohesive communities. Immigration policies, where possible, should prioritize close families together in order to insure the most supportive home environment for all children across our state. FURTHER, A SUPPORTIVE HOME ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES THE EXPULSION FROM THE COMMUNITY OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF ANY SERIOUS CRIME, INCLUDING ANY CONVICTION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR TWO OR MORE CONVICTIONS FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.
 
Fair and Effective Enforcement
We support a law enforcement strategy that focuses on public safety, targets serious crime, and safeguards witnesses and victims. We further urge a reasonable and predictable regulatory environment that considers the interests of, and unintended consequences to, BUSINESSES, EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED WORKERS, TAXPAYERS AND CONSUMERS. Furthermore, IN FAIRNESS TO ALL WORKERS AND UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED JOB-SEEKERS, the broader reform effort MUST INCLUDE a way to accurately, reliably and affordably determine who is permitted to work, insuring an adequate AND LAW-ABIDING labor force for a STRUGGLING ECONOMY. ADDITIONALLY, WE URGE THE SUPPORT FOR ADEQUATE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MEANINGFUL ENFORCEMENT OF ALL IMMIGRATION LAW AND FULL STATE AND LOCAL SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS.

A Commonsense Approach
Immigrants, BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL, are part of our communities across Colorado. We must adopt a commonsense approach to this reality that reflects our values and recognizes the critical role immigration has played in our nation's history and OUR STRUGGLING economy. SO THAT THEIR LEGAL STATUS CAN BE RESOLVED IN A FAIR AND APPROPRIATE MANNER UNDER ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF LAW AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, our immigration policies MUST BE BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE NATION AND THE RULE OF LAW. THEY SHOULD BE BASED ON FAIRNESS. IT IS UNFAIR TO THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE SUFFERED THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS OUT OF RESPECT FOR OUR LAWS AND COME HERE THE RIGHT WAY TO REWARD THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO VIOLATE THE LAWS. COMMON SENSE TELLS US THAT REWARDING SUCH BEHAVIOR ONLY ENCOURAGES MORE OF IT. COMMON SENSE TELLS US THAT IF THE 1986 AMNESTY FAILED TO GET THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE FEDERAL government TO LIVE UP TO THE PROMISES MADE ABOUT HIRING PRACTICES AND BORDER ENFORCEMENT, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THEY WILL ACT MORE RESPONSIBLY THIS TIME. COMMON SENSE TELLS US THAT MILLIONS MORE IMMIGRANTS (LEGAL OR ILLEGAL) COMING TO THIS COUNTRY WITH FEW, IF ANY, SKILLS WILL NOT IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY OR UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS. COMMON SENSE TELLS US THAT IMMIGRATION WITHOUT ASSIMILATION WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THE BALKANIZATION OF OUR SOCIETY.