Immigration and humanity
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Sunday, February 17, 2008
The critics lining up against punitive immigration legislation at Utah's Capitol don't get more influential than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which last week publicly joined a coalition of other faiths, chambers of commerce and interest groups. But as Beehive State Capitol-watchers know all too well, the crushing weight of public opinion sometimes reinforces the will of out-of-touch lawmakers to forge ahead.
On this issue, we hope cooler heads will prevail. Immigration is, arguably, the most culturally lacerating issue in Utah. There's significant anger in some segments of the populace over federal impotence regarding illegal immigration, employment of undocumented workers and illegals' involvement in crime -- whether real or perceived. That frustration bears fruit each year in the form of bills aiming to penalize children of illegal aliens, the driving-privilege cards used to entice illegals to carry auto insurance and employers who hire undocumented workers.
Early last week, the Immigration Policy Coalition held a news conference at the Capitol. Its members include the Utah Manufacturers Association, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Utah Farm Bureau, and the message was a plea for gaining knowledge before taking action. Speakers argued against "onerous" and "burdensome" mandates to businesses that might be employing undocumented workers.
The Immigration Policy Coalition is urging passage of Senate Bill 97, sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City. The measure would create a task force to study the various issues related to immigration policy and enforcement, and make recommendations.
That, of course, does not satisfy the fevered minds of lawmakers who have long staked their reputations on getting tough with illegal immigrants. They prefer the state step in and assume what has heretofore been a federal task.
We agree with the supporters of SB 97. This is a federal responsibility. Thrusting state government into enforcement will be expensive to fund and could possibly have serious economic consequences for Utah businesses. Furthermore, some of the proposed "remedies" are little but spiteful actions born of long-standing disappointment with Uncle Sam's inaction -- such as denying in-state tuition to children of illegals who have attended and graduated Utah high schools, and the aforementioned revocation of driving-privilege cards.
Those are, first and foremost, poor policy decisions. But more than that, we think the words of religious leaders on the topic deserve to be considered, too. At a multi-faith meeting Wednesday, Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake's Catholic Diocese reminded those in attendance that "This is a human issue; it is a moral issue." The Zion Lutheran Church's Pastor Steve Klemz urged love for immigrants in our communities. And Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Seventy, who said he was assigned to attend the meeting and make comments by the church's First Presidency, said, "I believe a more thoughtful and factual, not to mention humane approach is warranted, and urge those responsible for enactment of Utah's immigration policy to measure twice before they cut."
It's good advice. We hope lawmakers are listening -- with their hearts as well as their ears.
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