Sen. Tom Wiens is right: A bill he sponsored and which the governor signed into law this week is about to end a longstanding dispute over how some jurisdictions treat illegal immigrants. Do they or don't they intentionally shelter foreigners who've entered this country illegally?
"We have this huge debate that goes on every day," Wiens said the other day. "Certain people say certain towns are sanctuary cities, and they say, 'No, we're not.' This (law) is going to end that once and for all."
Yes, it will - "it" being Senate Bill 90. It cancels any local ordinance or policy inhibiting police from cooperating with federal immigration officials. It also requires officers to report to federal agents anyone arrested for a criminal offense who police have reason to believe is not a citizen.
This makes sense for two reasons: first, because local governments should not have their own foreign policy regarding immigrants, especially one in conflict with national objectives; and second, because if anyone should be deported, surely those who get in trouble with the law should go first.
We have always opposed attempts to designate local police as primary enforcers of immigration law. That would impair their ability to investigate crimes, particularly when they need the cooperation of witnesses. But Wiens' bill doesn't go that far.
Under SB 90, police must report their suspicions to federal agents only after they've actually arrested someone for a crime.
And when domestic violence is involved, the report occurs only if there's a conviction - this to ensure that women aren't discouraged from calling police during a disturbance.
The bill received bipartisan support, and seems to have been carefully crafted. In Colorado, the era of sanctuary cities is over - at least for the criminal class.
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