PROPOSAL DEEPENS RACIAL DIVIDE

COMMISSION STEREOTYPES FACTS BEHIND WELD'S CRIME

Sometimes good intentions do nothing but stir up trouble.

That's what has happened with the Weld County commissioners' recent
effort to draft a resolution supporting an Immigration and Customs
Enforcement field office in Greeley.

Upon introducing this resolution, endorsed by the commissioners and
Weld District Attorney Ken Buck, the commissioners stirred up a
hornet's nest with apparent blanket assumptions that smack of racism
- -- even though they probably didn't mean it that way.

After citing that violent crime, methamphetamine distribution,
alcohol-related offenses and structured gang activity have become
serious problems in Weld, the resolutions states:

"Whereas, some of the foregoing crimes are committed by illegal
aliens and removing criminal illegal aliens from Weld County would
ease the burden of law enforcement resources and promote the safety
of Weld County's citizens."

That burden really isn't that big, though. Only about 15 percent to
20 percent of inmates in the Weld County Jail are considered
foreign-born, and not all are illegal.

We know the commissioners and the district attorney didn't mean to
say all crime and violence and drug use are perpetrated by illegal
immigrants. But it sure sounds like it, and it has offended many Weld
County Latinos and Anglos alike, and rightfully so.

Those who attended a meeting last week with the Greeley police to
draft a city version of the resolution felt the measure as stated was
just another brand of terrorism against their race in this city. They
felt as if they were easy targets once again.

An immigration attorney said the resolution "plays off stereotypes
and people's fears and biases."

We agree.

We are aware of the hype surrounding illegal immigration, an issue
that has become the constant battle cry for many in politics. We
agree illegal immigration is a problem nationally. In fact, we backed
President Bush's plan he introduced in January 2004. Basically, Bush
wanted a program that would provide incentives for immigrants to
return to their home country, that would protect the homeland by
controlling our borders and that would serve America's economy by
matching a willing worker with a willing employer, among other
concepts. But to pin society's ills on one population is wrong and
leads to racial profiling, which is an even more tragic -- and
dangerous -- statement on race relations in any community.

The commissioners' resolution is unacceptable, and it's troubling
that none of the members understand what it is that people are
finding offensive. The commissioners' actions only serve to aggravate
the problem of racism that, unfortunately, continues to exist in our community.

Contact

Weld County Board of Commissioners: 915 10th St., P.O. Box 758,
Greeley CO 80632; call (970) 336-7204

* Dave Long, District 1; Glenn Vaad, District 2; Rob Masden, District
3; Mike Geile, at large, and Bill Jerke, at-large