Immigrants are part of our families, neighborhoods, and faith communities, They are our friends and work associates. They work at the businesses we patronize. Their children are classmates with our children. Immigrants are part of the very fabric of our society with the same dreams that we have for ourselves and our families.

​

For decades, encompassing both Democratic and Republican administrations, immigration has been at the forefront of the political debate and our national narrative. Over time, the debates and narratives have become more heated, politicized, polarizing, and dangerously filled with inaccuracies and falsehoods.

​

As interfaith leaders, in accordance with our scriptures and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we affirm that the "inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”  These equal and inalienable rights are the foundation of our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. Furthermore, we are called to speak and promote the truth and counter dehumanizing falsehoods that lead to and foster prejudice, injustice, and oppression within our communities. By speaking the truth, we aim to create a more honest and factual narrative to guide our local and national decision-making and create safe and welcoming communities where all people can pursue their sacred and undeniable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. 

​

We, the undersigned, proclaim these truths: 

​

•    Immigrants pay taxes.  Immigrants annually pay more in taxes than the entire GDP of 41 states.  These taxes fund critical programs like education, Social Security, public safety, and infrastructure.  In Colorado, undocumented immigrants paid $436.5 million in taxes in 2022. If these taxpayers were granted work authorizations, this number would rise to $537.8 million.  

​

•    Immigrants fill critical labor shortages.  Colorado has a labor shortage. Many immigrants do jobs US citizens are not interested in (house cleaning, yard care, agriculture, meat packing). Other immigrants are highly educated and skilled in fields like engineering or health care, filling critical labor shortages in these industries. Industries like construction are highly dependent on immigrant labor. 

​

•    Legal immigration options are limited, complex, backlogged, and expensive.  Our immigration system is complex and challenging. There are very few pathways to legal immigration. There are country-specific quotas, a backlog of cases, strict eligibility criteria, high costs, and political complexities. Many people wait years and even decades to gain legal status, even if they qualify through family ties or employment opportunities.

​

•    Immigrants fuel our economy.  Millions of undocumented immigrants are working across the country, contributing billions of dollars to the US economy and helping to curb inflation. Coloradan immigrants in 2023 had $5.8B in spending power, paid $571.4M state & local taxes paid, and paid $1.1B in federal taxes. 

​

•    Most immigrants are ineligible for federal public benefits.  Most immigrants are ineligible for federal public benefits such as welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income. Most lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) must wait at least five years to access these benefits. Undocumented immigrants are entirely ineligible for most federal welfare programs.

​

•    Immigrants seek refuge in the US for many reasons.  People coming to the US are coming here because of climate-related catastrophes, wars, terrorism, persecution, or gang activity. There is no evidence that they were criminals in their country of origin. 

​

•    Trump is targeting all undocumented immigrants for deportation.  The Obama and Biden Administrations prioritized deporting individuals deemed high priority: threats to national security or public safety or recent illegal entrants. The Trump Administration is targeting all undocumented individuals, including those established in our communities for decades or longer without criminal offenses.

​

•    Immigrants are law-abiding members of our communities.  Both documented and undocumented immigrants are less likely than native-born US citizens to be incarcerated in prisons, convicted of crimes, or arrested. (Source: Alex Nowrasteh of the Cato Institute)  A Northwestern University study analyzing 150 years of US Census data shows that immigrants have never been incarcerated at a higher rate than U.S.-born individuals. The gap has widened since 1960, and immigrants today are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born citizens. 88% of drug trafficking is conducted by US citizens. Out of those arrested by the Border Patrol for illegal crossings, only 0.02% were found with any fentanyl. 

​

•    Immigrants make our communities safer.  A robust body of research shows that welcoming immigrants strengthens public safety. However, if immigrants feel they are being targeted by ICE or local law enforcement, they may not report crimes.

​

•    The costs of mass deportation are enormous.  Mass deportations would cause significant labor shocks across key industries such as construction, agriculture, and hospitality. As these industries suffer, hundreds of thousands of US-born workers could lose their jobs. Mass deportation would reduce the US GDP by 4.2 to 6.8 percent, increasing inflation.

Honoring our scriptures and national and international accords, we proclaim these truths, standing in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors and against the dehumanizing falsehoods, inaccuracies, and mischaracterizations prevalent in the current local and nation discourse.

​

Signed by over 200 Colorado faith leaders, April 2025.

​