About Campaign

Background

Colorado’s success is rooted in policies that ensure everyone can live, study, work, and contribute fully. We have made significant strides in supporting immigrant communities, and now is the time to expand opportunities, and improve quality of life for all Coloradans.

At a time when federal protections like DACA, TPS & Parole are being taken away from Colorado immigrants, we need to step up to ensure a future where everyone, regardless of status, can participate in community institutions and contribute without fear.
 

​The Problem
In Colorado, many institutions of higher education, health care facilities, nonprofit organizations, private contractors & volunteer organizations require a Social Security Number (SSN) for non-employment background checks, blocking thousands of Coloradans from participating in opportunities required for educational programs like: 

• Clinical experiences for health careers, like nursing

• Internships, pre-apprenticeships &volunteer roles

​

This is happening despite neither the FBI norCBI requiring a SSN for a criminal background check. Requiring an SSN inherently excludes people based on immigration status, not reasons of safety, creating unnecessary barriers.

​​​

​Why It Matters

Opportunity for All: Everyone deserves the chance to study, volunteer, and participate in civic life without being excluded because of immigration status.

Safety: Name-based & fingerprint-based background checks remain intact, meaning that all criminal records can be searched, as can important databases like sex offender registries and child abuse and neglect records. Additionally, names and aliases, and address history can be verified using a collection of public & private data, and even a credit score can be checked, allowing background checks that accept an SSN or ITIN to be focused on actual safety, not immigration paperwork.

Public Health: Opening the door for immigrants regardless of status to enter careers in health care will help address workforce shortages, and contribute linguistic and cultural competency skills that lead to improved patient care. Additionally, health careers can provide individuals and families with dignity & economic stability that end generational cycles of poverty.

Our Message

Colorado should be a place where safety, not status determines opportunity. By removing unnecessary background barriers, we strengthen our communities, protect vulnerable people, and ensure everyone can contribute.