DENVER – On Monday, the delegation of the Democratic National Committee in Colorado sent a letter to the chairman of the state party asking for the “public censorship” of U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, a public censor.
The senator on Thursday voted in favor of a non-binding amendment that would prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving stimulus payments.
The non-binding nature of the amendment means that it is unlikely to have an impact on future incentive plans: Federal legislation prevents undocumented immigrants from receiving incentive payments because they do not have social security numbers.
Joseph Salazar, a former state representative and DNC member, said the vote, neither binding nor not, sent the wrong message.
“We never thought he would go that far because this amendment went so far and deep in a xenophobic path,” Salazar said. “You are not throwing communities under a bus, so you can try to curry the favor of well-known xenophobic and racist senators. You can not throw their favor curry and communities under a bus.”
The non-binding amendment was passed 58-42, with eight Democrats joining the Republicans.
The chapter of ACLU in Colorado has released a letter with 300 signatures stating that Hickenlooper’s non-binding voice sends the message: ‘I only care about you when I campaign.’
“It was an anti-immigrant vote,” said Denise Maes, director of public policy at ACLU Colorado.
Hickenlooper virtually met with leaders in the immigrant community to discuss his voice. Maes said after the meeting she was still not clear why Hickenlooper voted the way he did.
“I think its non-binding nature was puzzling, like why? Why an anti-immigrant initiative if it means nothing?” Maes said. “I think we remain disappointed with the vote, and we wanted to let the senator know that we will look at his future votes.”
Maes said Hickenlooper seems receptive to their feedback and concerns.
Colorado Jobs with Justice was one of the 300 advocates for immigrants who signed the letter from ACLU Colorado. According to executive director Pamela Resendiz, the coalition is advocating for workers’ rights.
“This vote seems to be such an easy decision for him without taking into account the stories of voters he represents,” Resendiz said.
A Hickenlooper spokesman stressed that the senator is still committed to a comprehensive form of immigration. The following statement was provided:
‘Immigrant communities and undocumented workers are specifically at the forefront of our economy – now more than ever before. I acknowledge how this mood distorted the important fact and fed dangerous and damaging narratives about the undocumented community. We have had several productive discussions on this and I am still committed to finally finding a comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system, including a path to citizenship. ”
– Senator John Hickenlooper
Sen John Hickenlooper
Denver7 reached out to Colorado’s Democratic Party for comment and did not return.