DENVER -- Eight Colorado Republicans have sent a letter to President George W. Bush asking him to declare a national state of emergency as a result of illegal immigration.

They want the president to secure U.S. borders and said they are shocked by the "blatant, coordinated, and anti-American demonstrations on behalf of illegal aliens throughout the country ... with little or no serious action on the part of the Federal Government to address the growing negative impact of illegal aliens, on the American people, or to protect all states from invasion,"

The letter from a group of Colorado lawmakers asked the president to use the National Guard and other troops "until effective barriers are in place to stop all illegal infiltration."

"Many illegal aliens now arrogantly oppose our American culture, our Constitutional process of citizenship, the Rule of Law, and the national sovereignty of the Southwestern United States," they wrote to the president.

The letter was signed by Reps. Lauri Clapp, of Centennial; Kevin Lundberg, of Berthoud; Jim Welker, of Loveland; Richard Decker, of Fountain; Doug Lamborn and David Schultheis, of Colorado Springs; Debbie Stafford, of Aurora; and Ted Harvey, of Highlands Ranch.

Read Letter Sent To President Bush.