Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
The Colorado Immigrant Rights
Coalition (CIRC) is a product of the growing immigrant rights movement
in Colorado. CIRC was formed in January 2002 by immigrants, immigrant
rights organizations, unions and advocates. It grew out of a statewide
campaign to pass legislation to allow immigrants to receive driver's
licenses without regard to their immigration status. (That bill
died in the first committee but succeeded in bringing together a
state-wide coalition of immigrant organizations).
In January 2003, CIRC released a legislative platform at a highly
attended press conference on the steps of the state Capitol. The
platform included:
- driver's licenses for all immigrants, regardless of status
- in-state tuition for qualifying immigrants who graduate from
state high schools
- statewide acceptance of the matricula consular identification
cards issued by the Mexican Consulate as official ID
- defeat of English-Only bills similar to Amendment 31
- defeat of attempts to cut all Medicaid benefits to legal immigrants
 |
CIRC member group El Centro
Amistad supports
legalization for undocumented immigrants
at a
AFSC/Rights for All People cosponsored rally at
the
state
capitol, April 2002. |
|
In August 2004, CIRC held its third annual statewide conference
to strengthen the mass movement for immigrant rights in Colorado.
The Conference was an excellent opportunity for groups from across
the state to network. The Coalition also strategized campaigns
for drivers' licenses, labor rights for immigrants, opposition to
police cooperation with immigration authorities, and national immigration
reform.
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