The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: News

Former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens discusses immigration and its impact on cities and states and homeland security during a conference at Denver University in Denver on Thursday. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

DENVER (AP) - Former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens said Thursday the U.S. border should be closed and that educated professionals should be given priority to immigrate legally.

I think we need to close the border. You can't have a legal system of immigration if you have a much easier illegal system," Owens, a Republican, told a panel at the University of Denver that's studying immigration.

He also said that people now in the country illegally should be allowed to stay under a guest worker program but shouldn't be given an expedited path to citizenship.

Owens said he favors more immigration to the U.S. - as long as it's legal and emphasizes people who are educated.

"So I'm in favor of legal immigration, and I'm also in favor, and I don't like to use the term very often, but I'm in favor of putting quotas, not based on race or ethnicity but I want to see additional points given for us to encourage educated people to come here," Owens said.

He said that is similar to Canada's immigration policy.

Colorado passed tough immigration laws in 2006 while Owens was in office during a special session that he ordered to tackle the issue.

One of the laws barred immigrants from receiving some state services unless they can prove they are in the country legally. Another required law enforcement agencies to report anyone they believe to be in the country illegally to federal immigration agents.

Lawmakers also created a State Patrol unit that year that has the authority to enforce immigration law during routing patrols and to curb human smuggling.

Gov. Bill Ritter, who spoke to the DU panel in January, said fewer immigrant workers are coming to Colorado because of those laws.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper told the panel he favors immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

"If you create a system where there isn't that ultimate goal for these people willing to work hard enough for it or have made sacrifices to go through the ordeal, then you end up creating a second class of citizens in our country," Hickenlooper said.

The DU panel plans to offer a report with policy recommendations to the state Legislature in December.

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