FOR RELEASE:
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
CONTACT:
Dan Hopkins 303-866-6324
Nate Strauch 303-866-6323
OWENS SIGNS BILL CREATING STATE PATROL
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT UNIT
Governor also signs legislation requiring state contractors
to verify that new employees are in country legally
(DENVER) - Under a bill signed today by Gov. Bill Owens, the Colorado State Patrol will operate a new 24-person unit dedicated exclusively to the enforcement of immigration laws, including the just-enacted state laws against the smuggling and trafficking of humans.
"There are few crimes more heinous than the smuggling and trafficking of human beings. Enforcement is a key element in the state's efforts to stop this appalling practice and the new CSP unit will play a critical role," Owens said.
According to State Patrol Chief Mark Trostel, the leadership of the team, a Captain and a Sergeant, will be selected by the end of June. When fully staffed, the immigration unit will consist of one captain, two sergeants, one administrative support member and 20 troopers to be assigned throughout the state.
Trostel noted that the immigration unit will not divert any troopers from traffic enforcement and motorist assistance duties. After July 1, 2006, when the new state budget period begins, 12 members of the unit will be hired followed by an additional 12 members within the state's next budget period beginning July 1, 2007.
Troopers in the new unit will be trained in human trafficking by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Three other states have either tested or deployed immigration enforcement teams within their equivalent state patrol or state police forces. The states include Alabama, Florida and Arizona. According to research conducted by the Colorado State Patrol, none of these states appears to have invested additional funding in immigration enforcement unlike Colorado, where the state legislature appropriated funds to CSP for the new unit.
The legislation, Senate Bill 225, was sponsored by Sen. Peter Groff (D-Denver) and Rep. Angie Paccione (D-Fort Collins). Last week, the Governor signed two other bills - SB 206 and SB 207 - that make human smuggling and human trafficking felonies.
Today, Owens also signed legislation requiring contractors doing business with the state to use a federal data base to verify that new employees are here in the country legally.
Under House Bill 1343, sponsored by Rep. Bill Crane (R-Arvada) and Sen. Moe Keller (D-Wheat Ridge), contractors who knowingly hire illegal immigrants could lose their state contracts.
