Voters approved a new city ordinance this week in Denver that grants police the right to seize cars driven by those suspected of being an illegal alien.
Colorado law currently bans illegal immigrants from obtaining licenses and provides police officers the right to impound the cars of unlicensed or uninsured drivers. Under the new law, which passed by 54 percent of the vote, police officers can impound the vehicles of drivers "suspected of being an illegal alien," regardless of whether or not they actually possess a valid driver's license.
Drivers suspected of being an illegal are required under the new ordinance to prove they are not residing in the US illegally...after their car is impounded.
Supporters of the bill
argue it will get unlicensed, dangerous drivers off the street and be a useful tool for locating illegal immigrants.
"I think it's a big blow to the City Council, which is clearly working for illegal immigrants and has no clear idea about safety and making the city a safer place," said one advocate.
Opponents say the vague language "suspected of being an illegal alien"
amounts to legalized racial profiling that will hurt working families, and be tough to
enforce. The also contend it will create a costly bureaucratic nightmare for the city as many individuals that have their cars impounded will not be able to afford to pay the hefty $2,500 impoundment fee to have their vehicles released.
"The vague language in the initiative will encourage discrimination and
harassment based on skin color, spoken language, and appearance," said one blogger. "This measure will only divide our community by creating fear and
confusion in communities of color, but it will also thrust the
undocumented immigrant community further into the shadows of our
society."
City officials estimate that th new ordinance will result in the impoundment of an additional 30,000 cars a year.
Also Interesting:
Illegal immigrants given option to deport themselves
McDonald's franchise fined one million dollars for employing illegal immigrants
Illegal Immigrants in the prison system
Q & A with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff