Rep. Dave Williams’ Colorado Politician Accountability Act Would Hurt Our Communities and Put Coloradans’ Health at Risk
DENVER – Following the introduction of the Colorado Politician Accountability Act by Rep. Dave Williams, Joe Sammen, Executive Director of Center for Health Progress released the below statement:
“By marginalizing Colorado’s immigrants without documentation and attacking officials who seek to protect them, Rep. Dave Williams’ bill would only further divide our communities and erode the values for which Colorado stands. The physical and mental health of Colorado’s immigrants are already being threatened by the recent tenor of national conversations on immigration, and Rep. Williams’ initiative can result only in more fear, distrust, and isolation, all of which hinder immigrants’ ability to work, learn, and live healthy lives.”
“Promoting a narrative that links immigrants without documentation to crime is wrong. We cannot let prejudice drive our public policy or breed mistrust of our hardworking law enforcement agencies. Working hard, working together, and helping our neighbors has always been The Colorado Way—we have a responsibility to our immigrant neighbors to make them feel safe and valued so they can live a healthy and productive life. Anything less will damage our economy and limit our potential.”
“At Center for Health Progress, we are more committed than ever to working with state and local leaders, community members, advocates, and health care providers to improve the health of all Coloradans. Providing for the health and safety of our immigrant communities isn’t an ideological argument – it’s an economic, social, and public health necessity. We hope Colorado’s elected officials will recognize the damage done to our population’s well-being by anti-immigrant measures and oppose this bill.”
For more information, please contact us at weare@centerforhealthprogress.org.