Immigration and rule of law

The "rule of law" is a fastidious thing. To the extent that enacted laws and their enforcement reflect the principles of the rule of law, each individual enjoys a set of shared expectations and due process which allow him to reasonably predict the outcome of his actions. These principles are a large reason why western democracies have flourished structurally and economically, and are arguably the best things to emerge from the Enlightenment. At the same time, it's terribly easy to misrepresent them for parochial political gain.

READ MORE: http://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/article_0638ab63-2e11-5a2d-ba20-a32b0d2ec00f.html

Nuevas leyes de inmigración de Utah se explicarán en junta

Varias organizaciones de apoyo al inmigrante están poniendo sobre aviso a la comunidad sobre la aplicación de algunas leyes de reforma migratoria aprobadas este año en la Legislatura de Utah.

Conocidas en conjunto como la “Solución de Utah”, las cuatro leyes de inmigración fueron firmadas por el Gobernador Gary Herbert el 15 de marzo. Estas incluyen las propuestas HB116, HB466, HB469 y HB497.

LEER MAS: http://www.ahorautah.com/ahorautah/home/51689831-160/que-las-utah-inmigración.html.csp?page=1

Rolly: Selective prohibitions of LDS Church lobbying

The rant posted this week against the LDS Church’s support of the guest-worker bill passed by the Utah Legislature comes from a conservative group of mostly Mormons who seem incensed by any notion the church lobbied for immigration bills.

Read More: http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/db_22794/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=xqtyM8xE&src=cat

El liderazgo mormón reitera su respaldo a la reforma migratoria, pero sin amnistía

Denver, 20 abr (EFE).- La iglesia mormona de Utah ha reiterado su respaldo a la reforma migratoria, siempre y cuando no suponga una amnistía ni un camino a la ciudadanía, tras una controversia acerca de su postura frente a la inmigración indocumentada.

Por medio de un comunicado emitido el martes por el Departamentos de Asuntos Públicos, los dirigentes de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días indican que "la iglesia ha hablado en numerosas ocasiones sobre el tema de la inmigración".

LEER MAS: http://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5hyKaUB9SfHg4j8h12UjdGDn8TKjg?docId=1514302

Mormon church reiterates support for Utah immigration bills, including HB116

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted a response on its website Tuesday to questions about its position on immigration, reiterating the church's appreciation for the passage of a package of immigration reform bills in Utah, including one that would give undocumented immigrants the right to work in the state.

READ MORE: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700128720/Mormon-church-reiterates-support-for-Utah-immigration-bills-including-HB116.html

Congressman urges lawsuit on Utah immigration law

SALT LAKE CITY — The Texas congressman who heads the U.S. House Judiciary Committee has accused the Justice Department of being "hypocritical" for not pursuing legal action against a Utah law approving a guest worker program for illegal immigrants.

READ MORE: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700128824/Congressman-urges-lawsuit-on-Utah-immigration-law.html

Amid questions, controversy LDS Church repeats its immigration stance

Amid a steady trickle of questions from LDS members and a swelling stream of political criticism of a state guest-worker law, the church is repeating its support of the Utah Compact, and it again described immigration laws enacted by Utah’s governor and Legislature as “a responsible approach.”

The statement, posted Tuesday on the church’s official website, came in response to “three or four calls a day [from members] … asking for the [LDS] church’s position on immigration,” said spokesman Scott Trotter. “The information is meant to reiterate what we’ve already said multiple times, rather than serve as a new statement on the topic.”

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51664127-78/bills-church-illegal-immigration.html.csp 

Utah’s Wester attends White House immigration meeting

Washington • A Utah-born, common-ground approach to fixing America’s broken immigration system was part of a White House discussion Tuesday and may serve as a model in moving the dicey debate forward.

John Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and an architect of the Utah Compact, was one of the leaders invited to the meeting that included President Barack Obama and a bevy of Cabinet heads.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51658822-90/compact-federal-immigrants-immigration.html.csp

Rolly: Some GOP delegates don’t buy LDS position on immigration

LDS Church leaders to Republican delegates: What part of “we support the guest-worker bill” do you not understand?

Actually, the LDS Church has not responded to the immigration-reform issue with that kind of in-your-face demeanor.

That’s just me.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51656721-90/church-county-lake-republican.html.csp

Latino group to states: Copy Utah Compact, not its laws

At the one-year anniversary of the enactment of Arizona’s controversial immigration law, a group trying to head off similar laws elsewhere encouraged states to copy the Utah Compact — but not to imitate the package of bills actually passed by the Utah Legislature, which it says are unconstitutional.

“Thanks to the effort of political, faith and business leaders, the debate in Utah was positive and constructive. Unfortunately, the outcome was not. The laws passed by Utah are flawed and unconstitutional,” said Janet Murguía, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, a Latino advocacy group.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51664946-90/arizona-compact-debate-enforcement.html.csp

Hispanic Media Attack Obama

Jorge Ramos attacks President Obama on immigration.

WATCH VIDEO HERE: http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0411/unusual_meeting_46015bdc-54d9-4f69-a2d8-999538f4c909.html

Pres. Obama vows again on immigration

President Obama told about 70 community and religious leaders on Tuesday that he hasn’t given up on immigration.

According to Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, Obama made a “compelling case” in a meeting at the White House that he was still committed to changing the immigration system, despite his failure to move legislation in either body of Congress in the last two years.
WATCH VIDEO: http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0411/unusual_meeting_46015bdc-54d9-4f69-a2d8-999538f4c909.html

Arizona Mormons divided on immigration

Arizona LDS lawmaker, Russell Pearce, and other Mormons like to quote the LDS Church's 12th Article of Faith about the importance of “obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” to defend stringent immigration enforcement laws.

But such opponents of undocumented immigrants, says Phoenix commercial trial lawyer Daryl Williams, disregard other Mormon scriptures that urge followers to embrace laws, only when they are good.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/51650158-180/williams-lds-pearce-church.html.csp

Is Utah on pace to become first sanctuary state?

Does the average legal Utah resident want their state to become the first in the country offering sanctuary and a guest worker program for illegal aliens? Were our citizens even consulted about this important legislation recently passed by our lawmakers and signed by Gov. Gary Herbert?

READ MORE: http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20110418/OPINION/104180308

Exigen destitución de cónsul honorario de Perú en Utah

Un grupo de ciudadanos peruanos redactó una carta en la que solicita que el Cónsul Honorario de Perú en Utah David Utrilla sea destituido inmediatamente del cargo o que renuncie por iniciativa propia.

Tony Yapias, director del Proyecto Latino y de nacionalidad peruana, dijo que la carta fue enviada por correo electrónico al Cónsul General de Perú en Denver Guido Loayza Devéscovi. Los argumentos mencionados en el documento apuntan a una atención ineficiente por parte del consulado y a que ésta debería ser realizada únicamente por ciudadanos peruanos.

LEER MAS AQUI: http://www.ahorautah.com/ahorautah/home/51607317-160/que-consulado-por-utah.html.csp 

Liberal immigration activists seek to mirror Utah Compact for national application

Utah leaders — including government, education, business and religious groups — came together last fall to draft a set of principles to guide the immigration debate in the state. Those guidelines, known as the Utah Compact, state in part that illegal immigrants are essential to the economy and deserving of respect.

The recommendations are credited with helping pass immigration changes last month in the Utah Legislature that included enforcement revisions and a guest worker program.

READ MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/immigration-reform-advocates-mirroring-principles-of-utah-compact-in-other-states-nationally/2011/04/09/AFnoB88C_story.html

Utah Compact provides starting point for Congress

Immigration reform has produced political gridlock in Congress and is becoming an obstacle to long-term economic resurgence. Instead of realizing the benefits of an imperfect but best achievable solution, the issue has become increasingly divisive as both sides dig in deeper.

READ MORE: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700125632/Utah-Compact-provides-starting-point-for-Congress.html

sltrib: Utah Compact

Can the Utah Compact become America’s Compact? We hope so.

Utah leaders have said almost from the beginning that their goal in passing a package of immigration reform bills in the recently concluded legislative session was to create a model for national reform. They hope that the new Utah laws put pressure on Congress to act.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51592085-82/utah-compact-immigration-reform.html.csp

Illegal immigration bills not in accord with Utah Compact, Bishop Wester says

SALT LAKE CITY — A driving force behind the Utah Compact skipped the governor's signing ceremony for the controversial illegal immigration bills the state Legislature passed this year.
While commending lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert for recognizing the value of immigrant workers and families, The Most Rev. John C. Wester said their political strategy poses severe risks for that "vulnerable" population.

READ MORE: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705370274/Illegal-immigration-bills-not-in-accord-with-Utah-Compact-Bishop-Wester-says.html

KSL-TV: Bishop Wester: Illegal immigration bills not in accord with Utah Compact

SALT LAKE CITY — A driving force behind the Utah Compact skipped the governor's signing ceremony for the controversial illegal immigration bills the state Legislature passed this year.

While commending lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert for recognizing the value of immigrant workers and families, The Most Rev. John C. Wester said their political strategy poses severe risks for that "vulnerable" population.

Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, takes issue with the state passing laws before seeking the federal approval needed to put them into practice.

SEE VIDEO: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=15069806

Supporters push for national version of Utah Compact

A national version of the Utah Compact is largely written, and key officials are aiming for a signing ceremony this summer in Washington, D.C., to propel discussions on immigration reform solutions.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said Tuesday the so-called “America’s Compact” aligns closely with the Utah Compact, a document signed in November that outlines humane guidelines for immigration reform while acknowledging the federal government’s authority to solve the divisive issue.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51569783-90/america-approach-compact-enforcement.html.csp

Utah immigration plan a good starting place for national compromise

Immigration reform is on hold indefinitely because of a stalemate, exorbitant costs and constitutional restrictions.

Republicans in Congress will not introduce immigration reform because the Democratic-controlled Senate and the president will stop it. The Democrats will not introduce reform because the Republican-controlled House will not fund it.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51540512-82/illegal-immigration-budget-immigrants.html.csp 

Utah Immigration: Friendly fire

A group of Utah Republicans has launched an online petition drive urging the Legislature to repeal the state’s new guest worker law. We agree that the law never should have been enacted and should be repealed, but we disagree on the reasons.

The petitioners are right that the new guest worker law is unconstitutional. Only Congress, not the state of Utah, can pass immigration laws. If each state attempted to create its own immigration system, chaos would result. For that reason, the new Utah law should be repealed.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51540983-82/law-utah-immigration-guest.html.csp 

New Utah law shows disdain for immigrants

As I mentioned in a previous column, I understand the efforts of Governor Gary Herbert and some legislators to pass more humane immigration-related legislation during the 2011 Utah Legislative session. However, when states get involved in federal immigration questions, it typically makes matters worse and Utah's H.B. 497 Utah Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act is no exception.
READ MORE: http://www.icatholic.org/article/new-utah-law-shows-disdain-for-immigrants-7581064

Utah immigration plan a good starting place for national compromise

Immigration reform is on hold indefinitely because of a stalemate, exorbitant costs and constitutional restrictions.

Republicans in Congress will not introduce immigration reform because the Democratic-controlled Senate and the president will stop it. The Democrats will not introduce reform because the Republican-controlled House will not fund it.

READ MORE: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51540512-82/illegal-immigration-budget-immigrants.html.csp