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DENVER — A Republican running for governor of Colorado says he'd pursue an Arizona-style immigrant crackdown if elected.
Former Rep. Scott McInnis, a Glenwood Springs native, told KHOW-AM radio in Denver that "I'd do something very similar" if elected. He was talking about the Arizona immigration law that aims to tackle illegal immigration.
The law has raised questions about civil liberties.
Republican candidates nationwide are talking about the Arizona law. Also Wednesday, a Republican running for governor of Minnesota called the law "a wonderful first step" on a St. Paul radio station. Republicans in Georgia, Nevada and Texas have also vowed to copy the law.
A spokesman for McInnis told The Denver Post the candidate would support a requirement that immigrants carry documents proving legal presence.
In the McInnis radio interview, the candidate praised Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, for signing the bill into law. McInnis called criticism of Brewer "unfair."
"Finally some governor stood up and said, 'We are stopping the retreat,'" McInnis said.
McInnis, now a Grand Junction resident, is one of two Republicans seeking the GOP nomination. The other Republican, businessman Dan Maes, said Wednesday that he supports Arizona's law. But Maes pointed out a 2006 Colorado law that is similar, a law requiring all local law enforcement officers to report to federal immigration officials people arrested in their jurisdiction who they reasonably believe to be an illegal alien. Maes said that law goes unenforced.
Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter is not running for re-election. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the only Democrat in the race, said while Arizona's law is troubling, he's not surprised states are trying to address immigration because Congress has not.
"We need a nonpartisan approach to solve this problem for the entire country and enforceable reform that doesn't abridge the basic freedom of our citizens," Hickenlooper said in a written statement.
Former Rep. Scott McInnis, a Glenwood Springs native, told KHOW-AM radio in Denver that "I'd do something very similar" if elected. He was talking about the Arizona immigration law that aims to tackle illegal immigration.
The law has raised questions about civil liberties.
Republican candidates nationwide are talking about the Arizona law. Also Wednesday, a Republican running for governor of Minnesota called the law "a wonderful first step" on a St. Paul radio station. Republicans in Georgia, Nevada and Texas have also vowed to copy the law.
A spokesman for McInnis told The Denver Post the candidate would support a requirement that immigrants carry documents proving legal presence.
In the McInnis radio interview, the candidate praised Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, for signing the bill into law. McInnis called criticism of Brewer "unfair."
"Finally some governor stood up and said, 'We are stopping the retreat,'" McInnis said.
McInnis, now a Grand Junction resident, is one of two Republicans seeking the GOP nomination. The other Republican, businessman Dan Maes, said Wednesday that he supports Arizona's law. But Maes pointed out a 2006 Colorado law that is similar, a law requiring all local law enforcement officers to report to federal immigration officials people arrested in their jurisdiction who they reasonably believe to be an illegal alien. Maes said that law goes unenforced.
Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter is not running for re-election. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the only Democrat in the race, said while Arizona's law is troubling, he's not surprised states are trying to address immigration because Congress has not.
"We need a nonpartisan approach to solve this problem for the entire country and enforceable reform that doesn't abridge the basic freedom of our citizens," Hickenlooper said in a written statement.
