The Impact of Immigrants in Colorado

Contributed by Kim Tremblay, Associate Attorney 

After the Senate passed the immigration reform bill on June 27, 2013, Coloradans may be reflecting on the specific impact it will have on our state.  The reality is that foreign-born Coloradans are already altering the state’s population, economy, and electorate.  They currently account for almost 10 percent of our population, or about 500,000 people.  About 180,000 of those immigrants are undocumented.  

These immigrants and their families are already having a huge impact on Colorado’s economy.  The purchasing power of Colorado’s Asian and Latino population totaled about $28 billion in 2012.  In 2007, the businesses they owned had sales and receipts of over $10 billion and employed over 51,000 people in our state.  Undocumented immigrants bring $8 billion of economic activity to the state every year and create about 40,000 jobs.  Undocumented immigrations also paid about $167.5 million in state, property, and sales taxes in 2010. 

Immigrants are also altering the nature of Colorado’s electorate.  Six percent of voters in Colorado are foreign born naturalized U.S. citizens or the children of these immigrants.  Just over a third of naturalized immigrants have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Whether immigration reform will change the above statistics depends on the final version of the bill that passes both in the Senate and the House, an uncertain outcome at this point.  What is certain is that Colorado is currently benefitting from the diversity and economic activity that immigrants bring to the state.  Potential legislation to bring our current undocumented population out of the shadows will likely boost our economy even more, as these immigrants will be able to become full participants in our society.  Other proposed reforms to increase the number of U.S. educated immigrants who remain in the state will only augment the state’s brainpower and attract businesses that require an educated workforce.  

Source: http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/new-americans-colorado

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Senate Passes Sweeping Immigration Bill

Contributed by Melanie Corrin, Senior Attorney

On June 27, 2013, the United States Senate passed a sweeping immigration bill that would put the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants on the path to a more permanent status, and invest $46 billion to increase border security and overhaul the country’s immigration system.

The Bi-Partisan effort, Senate Bill 744, passed by an overwhelming 68-32! The Bill will now go forward to the United States House of Representatives.  This is where we need your help; please contact any of the attorneys with our office to discuss this landmark legislation and help us to bring reform to our broken immigration laws. 

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The DOMA Decision And Its Impact In Immigration Law

Contributed by Bryon Large, Senior Attorney

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in United States vs. Windsor, invalidating the so-called Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA, which barred the federal government from recognizing any marriage that was not between one man and one woman.  The Supreme Court's decision has far-reaching implications in federal law, including immigration.

President Obama immediately instructed his cabinet to implement the decision "swiftly and smoothly."  Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of Homeland Security, issued a press release stating that she would work with the Attorney General to assure "that all married couples are treated fairly and equally in the administration of our immigration laws."

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender foreign nationals will now be eligible for the same immigration benefits through marriage in immigration that their straight counterparts have been eligible for, so long as they have been married in a state or country that performs same-sex marriages.  This includes visa petitions for immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as a myriad of defenses from deportation.   Presumably, the federal government will also recognize step-child and step-parent relationships, as well as fiancee relationships, involving same-sex spouses.

At Joseph Law Firm, P.C., we have actively been working on immigration benefits for same-sex couples for quite some time now.  We are pleased to begin filing for immigration benefits for same-sex couples immediately, for those couples that have entered into valid and lawful marriages in those American 13 states and the District of Columbia, or any country which recognizes same-sex marriages. 

If you believe that you may be impacted by the Supreme Court's decision, please contact our office immediately to set up an appointment to speak with one of our attorneys.

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U.S. Supreme Court rules on DOMA

Contributed by Bryon Large, Senior Attorney.

Today the United States Supreme Court rejected Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act which limited the federal recognition of marriage to one man and one woman.  This will have a huge impact on dual-national same-sex couples and immigration benefits.  Presumably, those couples in a same-sex marriage can petition for immigration benefits based on that marriage.  Previously, immigration benefits for long-term same-sex couples were extraordinarily limited.  A wide range of federal benefits, including immigration benefits, are now available to the LGBT community that were previously off limits.

Under today's ruling, same-sex couples will be entitled to equal treatment under federal law with regard to immigration benefits.  Lesbian and gay couples may now petition for their same-sex spouses.

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Comprehensive Immigration Reform Likely to Pass in Senate, Fate in House Unclear

Contributed by Aaron Hall, Senior Attorney
 
After an amendment to the immigration reform bill which adds over 40 billion dollars in new border security spending, including a near-doubling of border security agents, new drones, hundreds of miles of fencing, and a 1,500 mile long alligator moat (OK, there’s no alligator moat), the Senate seems poised to pass the proposed reform with 60 to 70 votes.  While the thousands of new agents, fencing, and drones threaten to turn border communities into militarized zones, it is apparently the price that needed to be paid to get the bill through the Senate with strong bipartisan support.

Assuming passage by the Senate, the attention would then turn to the House of Representatives, where some are predicting that the bill is “dead on arrival.”  Whether the bill passes the House of Representatives will likely hinge on whether Speaker of the House John Boehner decides to allow a vote on the bill despite a majority of House Republicans being opposed to the bill.  Most experts think that it will be late summer or fall before we know for sure whether comprehensive immigration reform can pass both houses and make it to the president’s desk.

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