Written by The declaration of five principles adopted by community leaders in Utah yesterday is a clear model of how each state should approach the growing debate on immigration. Utah’s staunch conservative political arena has not been immune to the growing swell of anger over enforcement of immigration laws that has been fueled by those who would blame immigrants for our current economic struggles. The Utah Compact is a clear reminder of where any community should start when considering the immigration problem:
FEDERAL SOLUTIONS Immigration is a federal policy issues between the U.S. government and other countries – not Utah and other countries. We urge Utah’s congressional delegation to lead efforts to strengthen federal laws and protect our national borders. We urge state leaders to adopt reasonable policies addressing immigrants in Utah.
LAW ENFORCEMENT We respect the rule of law and support law enforcement’s professional judgment and discretion. Limited local police resources should focus on criminal activities, not civil violations of federal code.
FAMILIES Strong families are the foundation of successful communities. We champion policies that support the health, education and well-being of all children and oppose policies that unnecessarily separate families.
ECONOMY Utah is best served by a free-market philosophy that maximizes individual freedom and opportunity. We acknowledge the economic role immigrants play as workers and taxpayers. Utah’s immigration policies must reaffirm our global reputation as a welcoming and business-friendly state.
A FREE SOCIETY Immigrants are integrated into communities across Utah. We must adopt a humane approach to this reality, reflecting our unique culture, history and spirit of inclusion. The way we treat immigrants will say more about us as a free society and less about our immigrant neighbors. Utah should always be a place that welcomes people of goodwill.
Substitute “Utah” with your own state or city, and you will immediately realize the direction we should take in solving our current immigration crisis. Above all, we must be respectful of one another, and recognize that upholding the rule of law is not an excuse for vigilantism.
