History and Accomplishments
The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) is a statewide, membership-based coalition of immigrant, faith, labor, youth, community and ally organizations founded in 2002 to build a unified statewide voice to defend and advance justice for all immigrants and refugees in Colorado and the United States. CIRC achieves this mission through capacity building, non-partisan civic engagement, strategic communications, defending against raids and repression, and winning fair and humane public policies.
Since its 2002 founding, CIRC has fought vigorously for citizenship for the undocumented, to protect civil liberties and human rights of immigrant workers and families, and for a full integration of immigrants into community life in the U.S. CIRC has emerged as a reliable and factual source on immigration for policymakers, educators and the media. In 2008, CIRC membership ratified its first statewide organizational structure and governing body, achieving unity of vision and strategy towards making Colorado a more immigrant friendly state.
CIRC's achievements to date include:
Helped organize Denver's 2006 and 2007 "mega-marches" calling on the U.S. Congress to pass fair and humane immigration reform, with over 75,000 and 15,000 participants respectively.
Co-launched the "Ya Es Hora Colorado" citizenship campaign, assisting thousands of immigrants to become citizens.
Established formal advocacy presence during the Colorado Legislature for the 2008 and 2009 session and helped defeat 25 of 27 anti-immigrant bills.
Supported the Western Slope and Denver-Metro area's 2008 new immigrant and refugee non-partisan voter registration and mobilization programs.
Formed Rapid Response Team to act against nine raids between 2006 and 2009.
Elected Steering Committee with equal statewide representation.
Hosted four statewide conferences.
Member of Executive Committee of FIRM (Fair Immigration Reform Movement).
Sponsored 8 delegation trips to Wash. D.C. to advocate for immigration reform in 2007-2008.
Organized weeklong economic boycott in 2007 that gained international attention.
Organized campaign to prevent anti-immigrant Initiative 55 from ballot status in 2006.
Led campaign to successfully stop anti-immigrant initiative in 2005.
Improved the CO Dept. of Labor's wage enforcement "wage theft" policy.
