Illegal

Using reasonable estimates of the number of undocumented immigrants and budget data published by the state, we estimate the total costs of providing federally mandated government services to undocumented immigrants in Colorado is nearly $225 million per year.

Articles: Bell updates Working Poor families indicators, Governor, Legislature hit 25 homers for opportunity, Fewer kids covered by health insurance, U.S. hosts 11 million undocumented immigrants, Poor families pay more for basic goods and services, Incentives increase retirement saving, Bell research cited in national report on TABOR

Special session compromise gets specific on public services for undocumented immigrants

New findings from the Bell Policy Center show that undocumented immigrants in Colorado pay $159 million to $194 million in state and local taxes, an amount equal to 70 to 86 percent of their K-12 education, emergency health care and incarceration costs.

"The action of the Colorado Supreme Court saved Colorado voters from an expensive campaign on what even the initiative???s supporters agreed was a purely symbolic measure,??? said Wade Buchanan, president of the Bell Policy Center. ???It would have been a campaign centered on a false choice.???

HB 06-1062 represents a net opportunity loss for Colorado. School-age children have a right to an education, regardless of their immigration status. Collecting the desired data could create a chilling effect on some students??? school enrollment, due to concerns about being identified as undocumented, or having their parents identified as such.

A Boulder Daily Camera commentary debunking the myth that undocumented immigrants use more resources of public health programs than citizens or legal immigrants.

A Boulder Daily Camera commentary by Wade Buchanan, recently pummelled on CNN's "The Lou Dobbs Show," looking at the dysfunctional immigration system in America and the need for reform.

A proposed constitutional amendment that would restrict undocumented immigrants from receiving any services from public programs in the state.

A Denver Post commentary asserting that for a guest-worker program to really work, it must offer a well-defined option for guest workers to seek legal permanent residency or citizenship. It's unrealistic to think that most guest workers would return to their home countries after their terms were up.