From: "Kent Lambert" Subject: RSCC Press Release: Republicans Demand Denver Drop Sanctuary Policy Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 12:12:40 -0600 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2005 Contact: Representative David Schultheis, 303-866-2937 Or Executive Director Kent Lambert, 719-440-9990, rscc@adelphia.net www.rscc.us Republicans Demand Denver Drop Sanctuary Policy (Denver) Republican Study Committee of Colorado (RSCC) Chairman Rep. David Schultheis (R-Colorado Springs) demanded today that Denver immediately rescind its sanctuary policy for illegal aliens. At a press conference co-sponsored by Defend Colorado Now and the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform on the steps of the Denver City and County Building, Schultheis said, "The people of Colorado not only want us to address this very serious problem-they are demanding it. Elected officials should either abide by the will of the people, or citizens should vote them out of office." Now, since Raul Garcia-Gomez murdered Denver Officer Donnie Young and attempted to murder Jack Bishop, it is clear that Democrat obstructionism to enforcing the law is putting lives in jeopardy. The City of Denver consistently failed to take action. Mayor John Hickenlooper, Garcia-Gomez’ employer, failed to take action after being warned by federal authorities and when Garcia-Gomez used false identity cards in applying for a job; the City of Denver failed to take action by making itself a sanctuary for illegal aliens in opposition to federal law; and the Denver Police failed to detain him on three occasions when he could not produce valid identification as a legal resident. Since the Rocky Mountain News reported that Hickenlooper’s business employed 100 illegal aliens, the mayor and other Democratic officials can’t duck their responsibility for helping steal jobs away from Colorado citizens and immigrants who live here legally, for driving down salaries for low income workers, and for giving away city and state services with no accountability. During the legislative session, RSCC members presented four common sense initiatives to address the illegal alien problem. The Democrats buried all of them in committee on party-line votes, thereby blocking all debate by the entire House of Representatives. "The Democrat-controlled legislature ignores illegal immigration when it should be the watchdog for citizens’ interests," said Schultheis. "It’s unreasonable to ask citizens to give up their tax refunds when absolutely nothing has been done to curb the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent for illegal aliens. Countering illegal immigration has broad bi-partisan support, but if Democrat leaders continue to politicize this and fail to take responsibility to protect the interests of Colorado citizens, then Republicans will." The RSCC is a group of elected legislators who have agreed to support core Republican principles, including enforcing laws and policies that reduce illegal immigration, reducing the flow of dangerous and illegal drugs, and supporting American jobs and businesses.