The mass detention of skilled temporary, mostly South Korean workers, ( including a few Chinese, Japanese and an Indonesian ) at a Hyundai plant in Georgia is the latest example of Washington’s incoherent immigration and visa policies. These were not criminals or gang members; they were engineers and technicians supporting billions of dollars of investment within the United States. Instead of welcoming their contribution, our broken system greeted them with handcuffs. Closing the factory and delaying further investments in the U.S. are terrible outcomes for our economy.

Colorado has always thrived as a home for immigrants. We benefit from their talent, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit. But our state also feels the strain when federal leaders fail to provide clarity and limitations to immigration. Schools, health care, housing, and other essential services are stretched thin in part because Washington has avoided tough choices to properly manage the flow of migration for decades. When cities and states refuse to work with ICE inside the jails, it makes the community less safe, and adds to the overall immigration system dysfunction, pushing ICE into the community.

This cannot continue. We call on Colorado’s congressional delegation—our two U.S. Senators and our eight Representatives from both parties — to make this issue a priority in Washington. They may disagree on many things, but we need them to work together on this critical issue. A modernized visa system that allows labor to flow where American workers are unavailable, and a clear, orderly path to legal citizenship for those who wish to fully join our community – one that prioritizes the labor needs of our economy, would benefit both Colorado and the nation. A balanced system should include guest worker opportunities for those who contribute in essential but temporary roles, while reserving citizenship for those prepared to make a permanent commitment to our nation.

The Colorado Center Party advocates for real solutions, not partisan sound bites. We urge the Colorado Congressional delegation to take this opportunity to lead, to bridge divides, and to show the country that Colorado values both fairness and practicality for the benefit of our country.