Burning Atlanta

I'm assuming they're ICE certified. BUt only 23 police under this program to cover the whole state? What's that, about 6 per shift considering weekends, vacations and time off?

Good job, Colorado.

The Colorado State Patrol is reporting its immigration unit has detained nearly 800 suspected illegal immigrants and investigated 33 human smuggling cases since it became operational last year.

"I think the number of we've actually arrested is in the 180 range," said Col. Mark Trostel from the Colorado State Patrol.

"That's a significant amount especially when you consider you have some individuals that have come here illegally and have been involved in criminal activity, anything from sexual assault, child abuse, robbery," Trostel told 7NEWS Reporter Lane Lyon.

Lance Clem with the Colorado State Patrol told 7NEWS "a substantial number of the suspected illegal immigrants that were stopped were arrested on drug and DUI charges."

Clem said "the unit has accomplished a lot more than they expected. Their numbers continue to be impressive."

The special enforcement unit has been in operation since July 1, 2007.

Before, CSP troopers had to call an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officer to the scene to determine if a person they have stopped is here illegally or not. Now the troopers can do that on their own.

There are some critics of the program, including the Denver-based non-profit group, Rights For All People.

Executive Director Lisa Duran said local law enforcement should focus on other public safety issues and not enforce federal immigration law.

"If local law enforcement can't focus on violent crimes, which is where I think most of community would want them to, then we're all less safe," Duran said. So, we should just let the police forget about anything except violent crimes? WRONG!!! The people want the laws enforced.