A December 13 Rocky Mountain News article by Jeff Kass reported that Colorado Rep. Dave Schultheis (R-Colorado Springs) was “delighted” to see a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Greeley, but failed to note Schultheis' recent controversial statements regarding the immigration status of the Hispanic victims of a fatal car accident in rural Weld County, all of whom were U.S. citizens.

As the News reported in a separate December 13 article, “Federal agents raided six Swift & Co. meat-processing plants in Colorado and five other states Tuesday, rounding up hundreds of workers as part of a nationwide investigation into identify theft involving suspected illegal immigrants.” The News further reported:

The sweeps stirred dramatic scenes inside and outside the plants, where operations ceased and workers' relatives gathered, some holding immigration documents, others fretting about who would pick up children, oblivious to their parents' fate, from school.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, packing bundles of handcuffs, swept through the plants as part of a nearly yearlong investigation into several identity- theft rings. Agents said workers were being arrested on immigration charges and, in some cases, on criminal warrants.

The December 13 article by Kass -- “Swift sweep a microcosm of debate on immigration” -- noted Schultheis' reaction to the ICE raid, reporting, “State Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, wholeheartedly supported the raid.” According to the News:

“I was delighted, quite frankly, to see that,” said Schultheis, who is also a senator-elect.

Schultheis believes that the background-check system is working effectively.

He argues that without immigrant labor to draw on, businesses would raise hourly wages and U.S. citizens would flock to jobs at Swift and elsewhere.

While reporting Schultheis' views on illegal immigration, the News made no mention of a controversial October 4 email Schultheis sent to the Greeley Tribune “questioning the immigration status” of car accident victims in Weld County, despite its previous reporting.

As the News reported on October 10, “A lawmaker's e-mail to the Greeley newspaper questioning the immigration status of the family of three children killed in a car accident has caused deep divisions in this northern Colorado farm community.” According to the News, the October 2 car accident involved 17-year-old Tania Bustillos, the driver; her 15-year-old brother Enrique, who died that evening; her 12-year-old brother Miguel, who died the following day; and her 3-month-old daughter Destiny Musquiz, who was taken off life support on October 4. The same News article also noted that, on October 4, “a reporter for the Greeley Tribune received an e-mail from state Rep. Dave Schultheis” in which he asked several questions regarding the immigration status of the victims:

“Was the driver properly licensed? Was the vehicle properly registered and insured? Was this person the child of parents in the U.S. illegally? Or was she here illegally?” Schultheis wrote.

“Why is it that the investigative reports we read in the papers and see on TV do not point out the fact that these accidents and the resulting cost to taxpayers (hospitalization, etc.) are a direct result of our lax immigration policies and enforcement?” he asked.

Later in the same article, the News noted that “Schultheis said he did not know that the fatal accident had just happened and that one of the family members had just been taken off life support. He blamed the Tribune for publishing what he said was a question from one of his constituents at an inopportune time.”

On October 20, the News published an open letter from the Bustillos family in which they avowed their legal residency status as well as that of their daughter and deceased sons. The letter also chastised Schultheis for bringing the family's healing process “to an abrupt halt” with his questions:

To answer your questions, yes -- the car was properly registered and insured. Tania followed the required State of Colorado protocol to obtain a driving permit. ALL THE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS with the same rights as you and your constituent (if the inquiring person is an American citizen). Their mother, Grasiela, is also an AMERICAN CITIZEN. Their father is a LEGAL RESIDENT.

The letter also asked Schultheis, “Is it your position that all Latinos should be assumed 'illegal aliens' unless proven otherwise?”

An October 20 News article reported that Schultheis “did not respond ... to four telephone messages and an e-mail seeking response” to the Bustillos letter. Moreover, Cara DeGette of Colorado Confidential noted in a November 25 blog entry about Schultheis that the Bustillos family had “asked for a formal apology from the lawmaker, which they never received.”

From the December 13 Rocky Mountain News article, “Swift sweep a microcosm of debate on immigration”:

Tuesday's raid at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant provided something for everyone in the national debate over the country's immigration policies.

Angelo Amador, director of immigration policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that Swift is voluntarily participating in the Basic Pilot Program, which allows employers to check whether items such as Social Security numbers are valid. But the database does not say whether they were fraudulently obtained.

“It appears Swift will not face charges. But the plants are still closed, so there's no bigger punishment than that,” said Amador, who noted that Swift is not a member of the U.S. Chamber.

Amador supports a temporary-worker program.

“There is demand for these workers, so you need to address that,” he said.

State Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, wholeheartedly supported the raid.

“I was delighted, quite frankly, to see that,” said Schultheis, who is also a senator-elect.

Schultheis believes that the background-check system is working effectively.

He argues that without immigrant labor to draw on, businesses would raise hourly wages and U.S. citizens would flock to jobs at Swift and elsewhere.