DENVER - Some Coloradans are joining the rest of the nation in coming together to push for comprehensive immigration reform.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet got an earful at one of four town hall meetings. He spoke at the largest event at Manual High School in Denver Wednesday.
About 1,000 people turned out to ask lawmakers to fix America's immigration system, including an anonymous 17-year-old high school student.
"Viridiana" says she came to Colorado when she was 6. She said when she first saw the bright lights on I-25, she was so excited. There are no bright lights in Mexico, she says. And those lights came to symbolize her own bright future. But not any longer.
"I feel so hopeless," she says softly. She has taken college-credit courses since she was 15. But she says that hard work won't translate into a higher education. She cannot afford to pay out-of-state college tuition, which she says is up to five times more than in-state tuition. She realizes her education is over--despite her dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer.
"My fear is not just getting caught, getting sent back (to Mexico). It's living in this cage forever. you know, living this fake life," she says.
Speakers at the meeting talked about a recent report that said legalization would add $1.5 trillion to the economy and generate up to $5.4 billion in new tax revenues.
Senator Michael Bennet will be one of Colorado's two senators whose vote could change the lives of immigrants like Viridiana.
He says he supports immigration reform. He personally understands because his mother came to America from Poland decades ago. But he also says it's a difficult issue that's misunderstood.
The U.S. House introduced an immigration reform bill in December. The Senate is expected to do so next month.
But Bennet said Congress' next priority is jobs. He says they'll tackle immigration reform either this year or next.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet got an earful at one of four town hall meetings. He spoke at the largest event at Manual High School in Denver Wednesday.
About 1,000 people turned out to ask lawmakers to fix America's immigration system, including an anonymous 17-year-old high school student.
"Viridiana" says she came to Colorado when she was 6. She said when she first saw the bright lights on I-25, she was so excited. There are no bright lights in Mexico, she says. And those lights came to symbolize her own bright future. But not any longer.
"I feel so hopeless," she says softly. She has taken college-credit courses since she was 15. But she says that hard work won't translate into a higher education. She cannot afford to pay out-of-state college tuition, which she says is up to five times more than in-state tuition. She realizes her education is over--despite her dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer.
"My fear is not just getting caught, getting sent back (to Mexico). It's living in this cage forever. you know, living this fake life," she says.
Speakers at the meeting talked about a recent report that said legalization would add $1.5 trillion to the economy and generate up to $5.4 billion in new tax revenues.
Senator Michael Bennet will be one of Colorado's two senators whose vote could change the lives of immigrants like Viridiana.
He says he supports immigration reform. He personally understands because his mother came to America from Poland decades ago. But he also says it's a difficult issue that's misunderstood.
The U.S. House introduced an immigration reform bill in December. The Senate is expected to do so next month.
But Bennet said Congress' next priority is jobs. He says they'll tackle immigration reform either this year or next.
