Hey, California — lawmakers in Colorado are making your anti-sanctuary campaign look wimpy. They want to issue “Purple Cards” in a bid to usurp federal authority and give illegal aliens a “lite” version of legal status.
Bringing state’s rights arguments to a ridiculous level, Democratic Reps. Dan Pabon and Irene Aguilar say Colorado’s version of a green card will grant illegal aliens the rights and privileges of U.S. citizens. (Of course, they’re conveniently forgetting that state legislatures have absolutely no authority to grant or withhold any kind of immigration status. That power belongs solely to the federal government.)
Like its first-in-the-nation statewide legalization of marijuana, the Rocky Mountain State would blaze a dubious new trail with its proposed Purple Card.
Dismissing critics who call the card unconstitutional, Pabon, an attorney, says there are reasonable limits to the law. Applicants must have paid state taxes for at least two years and committed no felonies for three years. (Pabon himself might not qualify if he were an illegal alien; he was busted for drunken driving in 2016.)
Pabon & Co. may not represent the views of Coloradans at large, but the Purple Card plan is just the latest example of local and state attacks on federal immigration laws. It’s fascinating – and surreal — to see Democrats touting the Tenth Amendment with vigor not seen since the Confederacy.
Denver officials recently put up a billboard calling for “Education Not Deportation” and affixed a sign on City Hall welcoming “immigrants” (read: illegal aliens).
RELATED: Illegal aliens swamp Colorado DMV
If enacted, the Purple Card, like so-called sanctuary laws, will be a powerful magnet for illegal aliens while ginning up business for human traffickers. This makes Colorado less safe for the general public. Costs for law enforcement, schools and social welfare programs will rise accordingly.
“This is nothing more than politically pandering to those here illegally,” said Rep. Patrick Neville, Republican minority leader in the House.
Correct. But don’t count out the Democratic-controlled Colorado Legislature, or its corporate contributors who would welcome additional efforts to interfere with federal immigration agents attempting to go about their lawful duties. Jabbing a collective thumb in the eye of the Trump administration and misappropriating tax dollars to litigate inane cases in federal court are Blue States’ highest priorities these days.