In defense of council members’ proposal on immigrant holds

“City ICE plan goes too far,” July 26 editorial.

As a Denver resident, I have been appalled and scared since the election. I’m appalled at the level of hate coming from the federal administration that I now see in this city I love so much. I feel scared of the policies that threaten to tear apart thousands more families, including my own.

As a DACA recipient, I have been able to work doing what I love, contributing to our economy. I am anxiously awaiting the fate of DACA. Meanwhile, at the local level, our city’s collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement has me equally stressed.

Allowing ICE to enter schools, churches and courthouses and allowing ICE to pick up people in jail — when we know rehabilitation and a just and fair criminal justice system will always be more effective — has to end. The proposed city ordinance will do just this, and with it will come a truly safe and welcoming city for all.

Denver The writer is a Denver teacher and a fellow with Padres & Jóvenes Unidos.

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I was frustrated to read your response to Denver City Council members Robin Kniech and Paul Lopez’s bill. To suggest that this bill is simply a knee-jerk reaction to Donald Trump is offensive and misses the bigger issue. The proposed bill is not in violation of any federal laws and repeatedly states that city officials must comply with federal law. Secondly, we’ve seen what happens when cities or states support anti-immigrant legislation in Arizona and Texas. Families are torn apart, more tax dollars are spent, anyone undocumented stops reporting crimes even when they’re the victims, and Latino people are even more the targets of racism. Send letters of 150 words or fewer to openforum@denverpost.com or 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 800, Denver, CO, 80202. Please include full name, city and phone number. Contact information is for our purposes only; we will not share it with anyone else. You can reach us by telephone at 303-954-1331.