Colorado's Sanctuary Prison System

Colorado's Sanctuary Prison System

Non-violent, illegal immigrant inmates in Colorado have a statutory "strong presumption of parole" to their deportation detainer. The parole board's response to this logical law scheme is to continuously deny parole for — mostly everyone eligible — the illegals. This is not strictly unlawful, because of the wiggle room of the "strong presumption" language. It is, however, a hostile act against the intention of the law and a public concern. [See recent story by Alan Pendergast, who estimates the annual cost of the parole board's hostility at $37 million.] There is an odd backlash whereby some people — crime victims — are indignant that an illegal was here to perpetrate a crime and want any such convict to serve a maximum sentence. That is to say, they don't want illegal immigrant convicts to "escape" to their deportation detainers, before their mandatory release to that same deportation detainer.

A recent news story (KCNC, Ch. 4, Denver) estimated cost of incarcerating illegal immigrant convicts at $100 million annually. How long should they be held, before sent to their deportation detainers? State senator Kent Lambert (R-Colo. Springs) stated, in the broadcast; as short a time as practicable. He wants corrections resources to not be wasted, beyond parole eligibility of inmates that face deportation anyway. The legislative session is over and nothing on this topic was presented, but political opinion is clear. Hopefully the next session will see some bills with mandatory language, that illegals "shall be paroled."

This comes with new urgency because the parole board has responded to the recent media attention in a most foul manner. Illegals with less than a year to their mandatory release (to ICE) have had their last parole hearing canceled! (This just happened to Hugo Flores at BVMC; yet to be verified as individual or systemic retaliation. Definitely illegal.)

--This story branches here: 1) Parole issues...extended to; why is there a parole board when Colorado has had a mandatory parole scheme for 25 years? Internet search my journalist cellmate: Michael J. McCarthy; 2) Bad behavior of the parole board as typically contumacious and retaliatory, in the face of clear legislation.

Number two is my issue. The department of corrections (DOC) has, like the parole board, run their own script; in complete disregard of statutory intent and public interest. The public, as voiced through clear legislation, wants illegal immigrant inmates deported sooner, rather than later. Interstate Corrections Compact (ICC) served — for over 50 years! — to intranationally deport inmates, to serve their sentences in states of which they have residency. The DOC decided they knew better and repealed the ICC statute. Imagine if your local district attorney repealed criminal code (legislation) at his or her discretion; or if the prison administrators threw out other legislation that obligates the department to hold inmates.

ICC is — present tense verb because the legislation still exists — clear and effective law, that interstate deports inmates. This accomplishes the dual goals of not wasting DOC resources on foreigner’s, as Sen. Lambert stated above; and out-of-state inmates are prepositioned back in their home states. Direct analogy to the international scenario, differing only in that interstate immigration is legal. So, considering that minor distinction: Why does Colorado DOC refuse to execute interstate deportation of inmates w/ no future there? Neurotic possesiveness; at the level of slave owners who beat slaves to death for their $5 market value of pleasure.

I drafted a simple Bill that says application for ICC will be unrestricted. [Corrections Compact Accessibility Act]

This could benefit from media that you forward this article to.

Thank You, Jason Pecci