State candidates will discuss immigration

Colorado's candidates for U.S. Senate will discuss immigration Saturday at a forum sponsored by Colorado Springs Catholic leaders.

Part of the idea behind the forum is to reintroduce a subject that's been largely dormant for the past couple of years, said Susan Rezzonico, director of social concerns and public policy for Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs.

"The issue of immigration is the elephant in the room, and it really has not been spoken of in the campaigns, and we hope to open up the conversation again," Rezzonico said. "We're tired of the stalemate, tired of the politicizing."

The Senate candidates include Republican Bob Schaffer, a former Colorado congressman who represented the state's 4th Congressional District, and Democratic Rep. Mark Udall, who represents the state's 2nd Congressional District. They're looking to replace Republican Wayne Allard, who's not seeking re-election.

The candidates offer outlines of their immigration policies on their Web pages. Schaffer calls for an all-out effort to stop people from crossing the border illegally and quotas for people who are allowed into the country to work, based on labor markets. Udall also favors measures to secure the borders. He supports an "earned path to temporary legal status and potential citizenship" for the millions of people now in the country illegally.

Tim Fuller, a political science professor at Colorado College, will moderate the forum. Audience members will be able to submit questions.

The forum caps a daylong event featuring Catholic leaders discussing immigration, including the Most Rev. Michael Sheridan, bishop of Colorado Springs.

Catholic bishops in the United States and Mexico issued a pastoral letter in 2003 calling for a range of immigration reforms such as expanded efforts to eradicate poverty, more opportunities to reunify families separated by national borders, more temporary workers and an opportunity for illegal immigrants to earn legal status.

-

Contact the writer: 636-0187 or perry.swanson@gazette.com  

EVENT DETAILS

Attending the full day's events requires registration and costs $10. Details are at www.socialconcernscs.org. The candidate forum is free as long as the auditorium can accommodate the crowd. It's scheduled 4 to 5 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2021 W. Pikes Peak Ave.