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Colorado Senate Approves Bill to Protect Immigrants Against Extortion

WITH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN SUPPORT

El Comercio de Colorado Newsroom

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With the unanimous backing of Democrats and Republicans, the Colorado Senate passed a bill that criminalizes extortion and threats to immigrants. It is now a crime to demand money from immigrants, to force them to submit to tasks, or to coerce them not to report crimes or abuses. The new law, known as HB21-1057, was sponsored by State Senator Robert Rodriguez.

This bill is part of a package of twelve laws under discussion that seek to protect Colorado immigrants from the social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and acts of racism and discrimination. Rodríguez emphasized that the law protects the undocumented “from the social realities that undocumented communities regularly face throughout Colorado.”

Including the Undocumented

According to the legislator, the new measure will allow immigrants, with or without legal presence in the country, who are victims of domestic violence, physical abuse, human trafficking, forced labor, or wage theft “or any other illegal activity” to report these crimes to competent authorities. According to the Census Bureau, nearly 10 percent of Colorado’s 5.7 million residents are from abroad.

According to the Colorado Coalition for Immigrant Rights (CIRC), some 150,000 undocumented immigrants live in the state. The HB21-1057 law provides protection measures against criminal extortion which has existed in Colorado for almost four decades but which until recently did not include the undocumented.

The Legislator Speaks

“This law is a public safety law. If we value public safety and want all crimes to be reported, then it is critical to ensure that the victims of these crimes, regardless of their immigration status, never have to worry about reporting crimes to law enforcement agencies”, Rodriguez, Denver, said during the debate before the final vote.