Tough laws shrinking supply of immigrant workers, Ritter says

Associated Press

Published January 29, 2009 at 2:21 p.m.

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Fewer immigrant workers are coming to Colorado because of tougher state laws, but the agricultural, ski and hotel industries are having a tougher time finding seasonal workers, Gov. Bill Ritter said today.

Without citing statistics, Ritter said employers around the state complain they face worker shortages because of laws passed in 2006 to fight illegal immigration. He said efforts to fortify guest worker programs would offer a solution.

“I quite frankly think that one of the people who understood this issue best in public life was (President) George Bush,” Ritter said. “George Bush had a real desire to tackle this issue.” One law created a State Patrol unit with the authority to enforce federal immigration law during routine patrols and curb human smuggling. Another barred immigrants from receiving some state services unless they could prove they were in the country legally. Also in 2006, lawmakers passed a bill requiring police to report anyone they believe to be in the country illegally to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Ritter noted that federal changes to seasonal worker visas means ski resort employees are losing their visas sooner. Anecdotally, he said Vail could have stayed open another month last year if its guest workers had lengthier visas.

At a minimum, Ritter said, successful immigration policy would “bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows.” “Find a way to acknowledge their existence here and the fact they’re employed and contributing to the economy,” he said.

Ritter spoke to a University of Denver panel studying immigration. The panel will issue a report with policy recommendations to the legislature in December, said Dave Brendsel, a DU spokesman.

Ritter, a Democrat who was elected in 2006, was criticized during his campaign by opponent Bob Beauprez for plea bargains he reached with illegal immigrants while serving as Denver’s district attorney.

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January 29, 2009

3:41 p.m.

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Bettybb writes:

Two million Americans have lost their jobs this year. Why are businesses having trouble finding labor? Oops.. forgot,,, they got hooked on the illegal cheap labor that puts Americans out of work and depresses American wages!

America for Americans and legal immigrants only.

No one in America should be above the law..., not even illegal aliens, even though the law breaking enriches the "elite".
January 29, 2009

3:59 p.m.

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Estoban writes:

"At a minimum, Ritter said, successful immigration policy would “bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows.” “Find a way to acknowledge their existence here and the fact they’re employed and contributing to the economy,” he said."
---------
Right now illegal immigrants that are working are filling job slots that Americans should be holding. Also, there are plenty of college students and youths that are looking for work. In this economy any open job should be going to an American. In a year, if there are shortages of workers, a job program might be acceptable, but certainly not right now.
January 29, 2009

5:07 p.m.

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zipper writes:

Ritter, champion of the illegal alien, he will stab a American citizen in the back to protect a illegal, he needs them to keep the Catholic Church financed. Bishop Chaput, Ritter, Hickenlooper (his buddies in the hospitality industry love cheap labor), these guys and many more do not care about American citizens, unless you are one of their rich cronies, please remember this, they do not give a damn about you. You are to be used and abused, pay taxes, and shut up and let the elite decide how you shall live, because they know whats best.
January 29, 2009

5:51 p.m.

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luckyLEW writes:

I think zipper covered it pretty well. The Hick made Denver a sanctuary city and Ritter has always been in favor of selective enforcement of the laws he swore to uphold. Chaput? Well, the church probably needs a new source of young boys.
January 29, 2009

6:06 p.m.

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BikerChick writes:

..
COLORADO'S ILLEGAL ALIEN NUMBERS INCREASING - NOT DECREASING.
..
So naive, Bill Ritter. Please stop repeating WRONG stories.

The rumor you are repeating is NOT true. Your friend, Archbishop Charles Chaput, has misinformed you.

TRUTH; We-the-people in Colorado now pay through the nose, NET (billions of dollars to city tax collectors, county tax collectors, state tax collectors and federal tax collectors) to host some 700,000 illegal aliens PLUS their 260,000 kids and grand-kids.

Some 500,000 of the illegal aliens are fully employed, paid (unlawfully) an average wage of $43,000 per year. Only two percent of these folks are performing menial jobs for low wages. Yes, some others have lost their jobs - just like everyone else.

Illegal aliens enter the USA from many sources. Using our southern USA border as an example, a peak of 5.6 MIL successfully entered the USA in 2006, while "only" 3.4 MIL came north in 2008.

Please don't believe the stories to the contrary. That border is more than 2,000 miles long, and the U.S. Border Patrol has only installed slightly more than 120 miles of ANTI-PERSONNEL FENCE. The rest of the "fence" is really vehicle barriers, etc.

Colorado continues to gain more illegal alien population, but the rate of increase is less than 2006. While some illegal alien folks have accumulated their goal nest-egg, and have voluntarily returned "back home" - which is the desire of two-thirds of the folks - the grand total of illegal aliens resident in Colorado continues to increase, albeit slowly.

Please STOP this silly hip-shooting response and verify the truth before opening your mouth. Just now, Bill Ritter, we need accurate answers - not political nonsense to support your EXPENSIVE adoration for foreign nationals unlawfully present.

Enough is enough, please.
..
January 29, 2009

6:17 p.m.

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Rangerjoe1 writes:

Ritter hasn't told the truth since he's been in office. Every state in America has a shortage of slaves. Market driven wages for Colorado workers are so out dated to this clown. He'd sell his own family into slavery for a vote. Hey Ritter why don't you pass abill so slaves can vote. Colorados worker biggest enemy is Ritter.
January 29, 2009

6:24 p.m.

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DelawareBob writes:

This was a good story to read. I think that with the state of the economy, these agricultural, ski and hotel industries may find it a little easier to get workers.

The important thing is that the Illegal Immigration Law is working. Of all 50 States would pass such a law, we may find our econcomy isn't all that bad.

I can't say the ILLEGAL ALIENS are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The ILLEGAL ALIENS send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?

How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the ANCHOR BABIES, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.

How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail ILLEGAL ALIENS for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?

Then you have these activist groups, the Catholic Church and the ACLU that want AMNESTY for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, "NO"!

If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million ILLEGAL ALIENS demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY.

An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used by ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed!

I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these ILLEGAL ALIENS to go back to their home Country and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the ILLEGAL ALIENS are out of this Country. I think that is plain to see.
January 29, 2009

6:49 p.m.

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seeker writes:

zipper, et al

As a Catholic whose parish was hijacked by illegals I can assure you that they do not support the Church financially. So wipe that off your list. And our visitors have diminished considerably over the last 5 months because jobs are scarce. They are going back to Mexico. And in my neighborhood, overnight, 5 neighbors moved out and went home. That part is too bad because they were nice people and kept the yards and home up very nicely.

Other people I know have had like experiences in their parishes and neighborhoods.

Also just to reiterate previous posts of mine, as a business owner in the past, when I placed ads in the Rocky for help, very few high school or college kids applied.....actually very few white people applied. The jobs were labor, dock work, and before you freak the pay was very good and excellent benefits. Young people want to work in the mall or air conditioned office and most don't want to sweat. That goes for old and young. Maybe now, in this new and sad economy things would be different but then, no good old American white people would come for the jobs. I hired people with legal docs who showed up with a good attitude no matter what color they were.

These things are statements of facts and are not intended to sound prejudiced. If they do I apologize.
January 29, 2009

8:24 p.m.

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gopbodybagz writes:

aspen - snowmass is staffed very well and down valley there is no shortage of folk wanting to come up to town to work. if we can just avoid unforeseen business interruptions (bomb threats) we'll be fine.
60% of the city realize the importance of new affordable housing for visitors and employees
January 29, 2009

8:25 p.m.

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summitsailor writes:

A big missing element that the Gov needs is to require all businesses in the State to use the Everify system to insure all employees are legal. Businesses will continue to hire illegals as long as the can get away with; they have lost all sense of national values. How about suggesting that to the study commitee Gov Ritter! Also all citizens should only direct their business to those companies that use it. I will not do business with anybody that I think hires illegals.
January 29, 2009

9:02 p.m.

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gopbodybagz writes:

my friends who speak of American jobs going to illegal aliens have a point. however, take my 23 and 24 year old unemployed sons and their unemployed girlfriends. now the ritz carlton, the jerome any number of places filling service jobs here with someone, will have to do something, i do not know what, to get my kids and their
friends (all college grads) to stop killing it on the hill and crush it in a service job.
January 29, 2009

9:18 p.m.

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jrhino writes:

These employers just whine and provide no proof.

Ritters labor department and human services are pro illegal.

Ritter is incompetent in administrating to rid illegal ailen bias in his departments. Witness the fact a recent legislative audit showed his departments were not aware or enforceing a 2003 secure and verifiable Id law. He gave then 30 days to report how they would comply and only two dept. have sent their beauracratic answer back

I give Ritter a c- as an administrator. And he and John Suthers record as illegal ailen roll overs speak for themselves.
January 29, 2009

9:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

jrhino writes:

This panel is a pro illegal alien sham and a white wash. Stan Weeks, Director of the Colorado Aliance for Immigration Reform asked for but was denied a seat.

This is a crying towel, pro illegal ailen, pro cheap labor Circle j.

DU has been used as The business schill as usual.

The legislatue would do well to ignore this baised forum.
January 30, 2009

12:57 a.m.

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publiussteve writes:

We are not fooled when Ritter says he wants to bring illegal aliens "out of the shadows." We all this means amnesty, which people from Colorado and America overwhelmingly reject! How incredibly insensitive of Ritter to peddle amnesty for millions of illegal foreign workers when so many Americans are losing their jobs!

Furthermore, according to FAIRUS.org, as of 2006 illegals burden Colorado taxpayers with annual costs of about $711 million -- illustrating the high cost of so-called cheap labor that Ritter and his special interests adore. NO MORE -- enforce all state and federal immigration laws with NO form of any amnesty.
January 30, 2009

8:17 a.m.

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HernandezUSA writes:

1986 Amnesty was a COMPLETE failure, because Enforcement was not REALIZED and now we have more ILLEGAL ALIENS than every before!

"in the first year of democratic majority rule, Nelson Mandela’s government expelled almost 60,000 undocumented migrants, most of whom were from neighboring Mozambique. " - President Obamas role model.

"South Africa has shown that a country determined to put its own citizens’ interests first will deport illegal aliens in numbers. Yet its example is ignored by those who say "it can't be done". The answer is: "Yes it can". It can even be done creatively."

We need the SAVE ACT and E-verify used for every business and NOT Amnesty for criminals.

E-verify does not discriminate against RACE, Religion, SEX or physically capability only your Citizenship and your LEGAL right to be and work in United States.

If we can stop Predatory business owners from hiring then the Illegal Aliens will not Stay and return to their native Countries.

This ISSUE is not about RACE, but Governments Federal/State/LOCAL not doing their jobs, because big and small business owners want cheap workers and no labor laws to bother with......Its called GREED!

.numbersusa.com
//dontspeakforme.org/
January 30, 2009

2:14 p.m.

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the_ripper writes:

'...Without citing statistics, Ritter said...Fewer immigrant workers are coming to Colorado because of tougher state laws...'

Doesn't he mean ILLEGAL immigrant workers?
February 11, 2009

9:52 p.m.

Suggest removal

JamesTaylorSucks writes:

everytime ritter opens his pie hole he says something more stupid than the time before. ILLEGAL ALIENS ok

Home › Business › Skiing & Tourism

Tough laws shrinking supply of immigrant workers, Ritter says

Associated Press

Published January 29, 2009 at 2:21 p.m.

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