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Fewer immigrants are calling state home

Faltering economy and stepped-up enforcement cited

By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 22, 2008 at 9:11 p.m.
Updated September 22, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.

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CORRECTION: This story mistakenly identified Pres Montoya as Sen. Ken Salazar's Weld County regional representative. Montoya no longer works for the senator. He is a businessman and a commissioner on the Colorado Real Estate Commission, appointed by the governor.

The estimated number of immigrants living in Colorado last year fell, and observers pointed to a weaker economy and tighter immigration controls as possible causes for the reduction.

The number of foreign-born residents declined about 1 percent to 485,170 in 2007 from nearly 489,500 in 2006, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. The figures do not distinguish between immigrants living in Colorado legally and those in the state illegally.

But Stan Weekes, director of the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform, a group that favors limits on lawful immigration and tougher enforcement against illegal entries, said he is skeptical about the bureau's estimates simply because it is logistically hard to nail down figures when it comes to illegal immigrants.

"I don't suspect that maybe one legal person in a household is going to tell the census about illegals inside," Weekes said.

But Weekes said that if the estimates prove authentic, he believes the struggling economy played more of a role in the exodus of some foreigners. Many construction, landscaping and other corresponding jobs probably have been responsible for luring immigrants to other states such as Texas, he said.

"I believe there are probably people who are leaving, and I would attribute most of that to the economy," he said.

Pres Montoya, Weld County regional representative for state Sen. Ken Salazar, said he believed that the raids carried out at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Greeley in 2006, along with tougher enforcement measures and public sentiment against illegal immigration have forced some workers and their families to relocate.

"For this particular area in Colorado, there's a shortage of workers right now," Montoya said.

"I think because of the raids and a push on anti-immigration, a lot of people have left. It's not for a lack of jobs," he said.

In other Colorado communities where tourists and visitors spend their money in the service industry such as hotels and local businesses where foreigners have traditionally held the jobs, immigrants likely got pink slips because of the sagging economy, Montoya said.

Comments

  • September 22, 2008

    10:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    luv2skico writes:

    From Salazar's office: "For this particular area in Colorado, there's a shortage on workers right now," Montoya said. "I think because of the raids and a push on anti-immigration, a lot of people have left. It's not for a lack of jobs."

    Freudian slip? Try anti-ILLEGAL-immigration. To not distinguish between the two, demeans those who followed the law and came to America to share in its bounty LEGALLY! Almost all Coloradans welcome legal immigrants with open arms. Stop purposely confusing those who honor our laws with those who ignore them!

  • September 23, 2008

    1:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    I have no problem with people who immigrate legally and want to better our society.
    It seems the rest want to come here and want to destroy our families with drugs and guns.
    Well they have no right to be here and I even believe if you are a immigrant both legal and llegal and you commit a crime.
    Then you need to go home because we don't need to provide a place for law breakers.
    Deport the criminals and their families and send a clear message to all immigrants legal and illegal.

  • September 23, 2008

    6:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike846 writes:

    All voters need to remember that Ken Salazar supported this invasion of illegal aliens and throw him out of office when his term is up in three years or so. For my part, the Republicans can run a yellow dog for his seat, and I'll vote for the dog. I'm tired of elected officials NOT protecting the interests of American citizens, and the only way to make that point is throw them out of office. Mike

  • September 23, 2008

    9:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BetterEducated writes:

    Don't know about that yellow dog (I have a yellow dog, she would not make a good senator imho) but sure do agree with you about Salazar.

  • September 23, 2008

    11:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    diamondstay writes:

    Well it's a big problem. We want the cheap labor because we're too lazy to do it ourselves but we don't want the burden to our society of the low income workers who can't afford services because we won't pay them enough.

    Some of these problems we've brought upon ourselves because we're so lazy and think we're smarter than everyone else. Looks like we're starting to get our comeuppance.

  • September 23, 2008

    3 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    pres writes:

    Pres Montoya does not work for Senator Salazar office.

    Direct comments to Pres Montoya