A KDVR Fox 31 report on “a weeklong, statewide economic boycott for immigration reform" aired on March 25 featured remarks from anti-immigration activist Fred Elbel without noting his ties to people and organizations that frequently espouse white nationalist views.

Following video footage of a man identified as an “undocumented immigrant[]” who plans to honor the economic boycott, Fox 31 reporter Tammy Vigil introduced Elbel as someone who “supports immigration reform and also immigration enforcement.” Next, the report featured Elbel's comment regarding those participating in the boycott: “I think they should save their money and spend it on a bus ticket and go home and reunite with their families.” Co-anchor Jeremy Hubbard then noted, “Elbel says he'd like to see immigrants reform their own societies so they can earn decent wages in their home countries.”

While Vigil correctly noted that Elbel heads the group Defend Colorado Now (DCN), Fox 31's report did not disclose the agendas of the other anti-immigration groups Elbel is affiliated with, many of which have been described as adhering to white nationalist principles. Further, the report failed to mention that Elbel has a history of writing for websites that espouse controversial views on race.

The immigration-rights organization Center for New Community released a report in June 2006 profiling DCN and Elbel's involvement with Sierrans for U.S. Population Stabilization (SUSPS), “a network of anti-immigration Sierra Club activists who have attempted to take over the national environmental group” in an effort to apply its organizational leverage to advance an anti-immigration policy. According to the report, “Through SUSPS, Elbel has worked closely with avowed white nationalists, such as Brenda Walker. Elbel maintains the SUSPS website and sends out email reminders to Sierra Club members to vote for anti-immigrant candidates.”

As the online daily political news website Colorado Confidential has noted, “Elbel's words have ... appeared in the Social Contract Press,” a publication the Rocky Mountain News recognized as a “publisher of numerous immigration pieces including some by authors who express white nationalist or separatist views.” The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) called the publication “a journal that is published by a hate group.”

In addition to Elbel's involvement with DCN, the SPLC has noted his affiliation with other questionable groups led by notorious white supremacists. According to the SPLC, Elbel has been featured on the website for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has faced bipartisan accusations of airing “racially inflammatory” anti-immigration ads with another group, the Coalition for the Future of the American Worker. Elbel reportedly also has served as webmaster for Protect Arizona Now, which “appointed ... well-known white supremacist [Virginia Abernethy] to head its national advisory board.”

As the Center for New Community report observed, Abernethy -- whom the report similarly identifies as a “self-proclaimed white 'separatist' ” -- served on the advisory council for the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform, an organization for which Elbel also served as spokesman and director.

From the March 25 broadcast of KDVR Fox 31's News at Nine O'Clock:

HUBBARD: Well, today begins a weeklong, statewide economic boycott for immigration reform. Immigrant groups are asking undocumented immigrants and their supporters not to spend any money at all if they can avoid it this week. Fox 31's Tammy Vigil has more on the potential impact.

[begin video clip]

LUIS ABREU [Costa Mar restaurant]: We really don't know how it's going to affect us.

VIGIL: At Costa Mar restaurant in Aurora, business is slower than usual today. But they're quick to point out that's OK.

ABREU: A short-term sacrifice, a short-term pain, will in the long run benefit people.

VIGIL: The issue of immigration reform fires them up. They support a week-long economic boycott by undocumented immigrants.

ABREU: If they were paid what they should be worth, what the market says they should be paid, maybe they would have more expose -- expendable income.

VIGIL: One of those undocumented immigrants is Ignacio Rameriz. He'll spend time with family this week instead of spending money.

RAMERIZ: No, it's not difficult. We are from Mexico, in Mexico we are spend half of dollar, probably, per day.

VIGIL: He hopes Americans realize immigration reform means doing the right thing by taking care of people who work hard for little in return.

RAMERIZ: They have cheaper labors, but they don't -- they don't want to give us Social Security or higher education. They want 12 millions of -- slaves.

VIGIL: Fred Elbel, who heads Defend Colorado Now, supports immigration reform and also immigration enforcement. He doesn't think the boycott will have much impact.

ELBEL: I think they should save their money and spend it on a bus ticket and go home and reunite with their families.

[end video clip]

HUBBARD: That was Tammy Vigil reporting. Elbel says he'd like to see immigrants reform their own societies so they can earn decent wages in their home countries. The boycott runs through next Sunday.