Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly finds that: (a) The costs incurred by Colorado in addressing illegal immigration have increased in the last three years and are placing a burden on the state's budgetary and human resources; (b) The areas in which these costs have dramatically increased include, but are not limited to, identifying illegal immigrants, processing illegal immigrants through the criminal justice system, incarcerating illegal immigrants, and providing education, medical assistance, health care, and foster care for illegal immigrants; (c) At the same time, federal funding to assist states in dealing with illegal immigration has decreased, yet the federal government is asking state governments to do even more with their own funds to enforce federal immigration laws and preserve homeland security, which are essentially federal responsibilities; and (d) The federal government is in arrears on its obligation to reimburse states for costs incurred by the states in dealing with illegal immigration. (2) The general assembly, therefore, determines that it is necessary for the state of Colorado to protect its interests and seek the recovery of reimbursement available under federal law for the costs incurred by this state in dealing with illegal immigration.