Billboards stir 'illegals' debate

Denver officials deny city has a so-called 'sanctuary' policy

Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 2, 2006 at midnight

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Two new billboards are stirring up the immigration debate with messages focusing on the claim that Denver gives "sanctuary" to illegal immigrants.

A 48-foot-by-14-foot billboard on California Street near 21st Street depicts a symbol for fallen soldiers and says, "Mr. President, Mr. Governor, Mr. Mayor; They did not die for . . . ILLEGAL SANCTUARY!"

A billboard with the same dimensions on Sixth Avenue just east of I-25 says, "Welcome to SANCTUARY CITY . . . Relax, you made it! Brought to you by Executive Order 116."

That's a reference to a 1998 order issued by former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb that outlines the city's anti-discrimination stance regarding immigrants.

Denver officials deny the "sanctuary" claim.

"There are no ordinances, executive orders or regulations that establish a 'sanctuary policy' in Denver," said Lindy Eichenbaum-Lent, spokeswoman for Mayor John Hickenlooper.

"Denver's policies comply with federal law, and Denver law enforcement officers cooperate with federal officials on immigration matters. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said Denver is not a sanctuary city, so merely erecting a misleading billboard doesn't make it true."

A crowd of 100 to 130 supporters gathered in a parking lot by the California Street sign with KHOW radio host Peter Boyles, who spearheaded the billboard campaign and aired his show live from the site.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., and Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman border patrol effort, attended the unveiling.

Crews removed a cover from the billboard just after 7 a.m. The Sixth Avenue billboard was uncovered about 6:30 a.m., organizers said.

During the unveiling, volunteers for Defend Colorado Now collected petition signatures for the group's ballot measure that would deny most government services to illegal immigrants.

Gilchrist said his group will raise money to erect similar billboards in Massachusetts, Arizona and California.

Mike McGarry said sponsors spent $18,500 for the two billboards, which will stay up for one month. He said his group plans to erect one more billboard, and possibly more depending on how much money can be raised.

One Denver resident protested the billboards and the radio show promotion. Richard Delgado, a factory worker, stood at a nearby corner holding a large white sign that said "No Billboards for Bigots."

Polly Baca, a member of Keep Colorado Safe, the organization fighting the anti-illegal immigrant ballot initiative, said the billboards are confusing and won't have much impact.

"I am somewhat amused by the billboards," she said. "The only sanctuaries that I'm aware of are sanctuaries for wildlife."

Denver declaration

Critics claim that Executive Order 116, issued by former Mayor Wellington Webb in 1998, allows illegal immigrants to live in the city without scrutiny. Denver officials deny that. Here's what the order says:

The City and County of Denver is an ethnically and culturally pluralistic city. We cherish this diversity for enhancing the quality of life in our community. As Denver emerges as an international city in a global economy, we can anticipate that foreign-born residents will continue to make Denver their home. We welcome all to share Denver's warm hospitality. We must respect this diversity and assure that the human rights of our residents are protected.

The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 divided legal immigrants, for the first time in modern history, into two distinct categories with regard to public benefits: qualified and unqualified immigrants. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997, while restoring some means-tested benefits for legal immigrants arriving before August 1996, did not change this fundamental shift in U.S. immigration policy. This distinction among legal immigrants unfairly impacts many of Denver's children, senior citizens and disabled residents, and has the potential to be misinterpreted by public officials and administrators and to foster a climate of intolerance and discrimination.

This Executive Order establishes and emphasizes that the city strongly opposes this change in federal immigration policy, that the city will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any form, and that the city remains firmly committed to the delivery of services to all of its residents.

The city will vigorously preserve the legal rights of all of its residents. In addition, we will strongly encourage partners, such as the Denver business community, Denver Public Schools, public and private medical facilities, institutions of higher education and neighboring municipalities to adopt a similar policy.

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