Colo. Supreme Court hears ID theft arguments

DENVER (AP) - Weld County authorities are urging the Colorado Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that halted an identity theft investigation against hundreds of suspected illegal immigrants.

In arguments before the court on Thursday, Weld County attorneys insisted authorities didn't break the law when they seized thousands of tax documents to build their case. They said it was impossible for them to be more specific in their search because it involved identity theft.

Authorities said last year as many as 1,300 suspected illegal immigrants were using other people's identities to work and file taxes.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Weld County public defender's office argued the search and investigation was illegal because it violated privacy rights and lacked probable cause.