The Western Slope is an incredibly beautiful region where Spanish and English have mingled for hundreds of years across landscapes of sun drenched mesas, alpine mountains, and red rock deserts. The ancient Ute nation called this sacred land home before being forcibly removed by the US government. Today, the legacy of resistance against oppression and solidarity with this native people continues as our communities fight for liberation and freedom here.
Immigrants in the West Slope are essential to keeping the region’s modern, rich economy going from ski resorts to hotels, commercial farms to small businesses. Yet, it is also a place where ICE is active in breaking up families, endangering our economy, and harming our diverse communities. However, long distance from Denver has made us resilient and self-reliant and resistance and unity for immigrant rights in the West Slope is stronger than ever.
Riverside Task Force
Hispanic Affairs Project (HAP)
Western Colorado Migrant and Rural Coalition (WCMRC)
Western Colorado Alliance (WCA)
Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center
Construyendo
Rosa Belongs Here
Tri-County Health Network
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley (UUCGV)
Farmworkers’ Rights
The West Slope is rich in farmland and immigrant farm workers whose labor puts food on all our tables. Many agricultural workers are undocumented making them vulnerable to exploitation and labor violations. Fortunately, CIRC and our members, including the Hispanic Affairs Project (HAP) have been active in organizing farm workers to fight for the rights they deserve. In 2021, thanks to the organizing of our members and powerful testimony from farm workers, we helped pass SB-087, the Farm Workers Bill of Rights, one of the most progressive of its kind in the country, making our state a leader in agricultural rights.
Driver’s Licenses for All
SB-251 was passed in Colorado in 2014, giving Coloradans without immigration status the right to a driver’s license. However, actually accessing this right at the DMV has remained challenging. CIRC has worked to expand offices in the West Slope that offer SB-251 licenses and has worked with and trained our members to help immigrant communities understand how to get a license.
Language Justice
Spanish was spoken in the West Slope long before English, yet many Spanish speakers are not able to access critical resources in their native tongue. CIRC continues to work with our members to fight for and expand bilingualism across the region.
Making Ourselves Heard
Being so far from Denver, the western regions of Colorado have often been ignored and overlooked. CIRC works to uplift immigrant voices ad experiences, making sure that West Slope stories are heard in the capitol and member work here is felt throughout the state.