Hispanics slam governor for immigration remarks

Colorado Hispanic activists are angry that the state’s Democratic governor, John Hickenlooper, thinks it’s fruitless to pursue citizenship for immigrants who are in the country illegally.

Hickenlooper on Wednesday told the Wall Street Journal that activists and Democrats should stop demanding a pathway to citizenship for those 11 million people and instead settle for five-year guest worker permits while securing the southern border.

On Friday, the Colorado Latino Forum slammed the governor, noting he was just re-elected with support from Hispanic voters and activists. The group said Hickenlooper “is out of touch with our community’s priorities and values.”

In an interview Friday, Hickenlooper said he hoped President Obama’s new order granting deportation relief to some immigrants will spur congressional action. The governor called the proposal “combustible” in his Journal interview.