The most disheartening thing to see is employers and the business community unwilling to step forward to assist their immigrant employees in having a decent life free from abuse and exploitation and unwilling to speak out on the contribution their immigrant employees make to the economy and the fiber of the community. There is a video out that says it all: "A Day without a Mexican" (If you think eating out is expensive now, try having all Mexicans go back to Mexico).

What is at stake in this whole concern about immigration are the values that have guided our nation — the freedom and dignity of every individual. Not only are employers and the business community silent on the hardships immigrants must endure, but so are religious leaders and human-rights advocates. It is disappointing. We give lip service to human rights, yet our leaders do nothing to help solve the problems with immigration. We see people trying to protect patriotism and guarding our borders, while at the same time so willing to let Latino youngsters fight and die for this country at a disproportionate rate to their population.

We sometimes forget that the strength of our nation was created, advanced and protected by immigrants. According to one of our most decorated Medal of Honor green berets:

"I believe that there is no greater calling for a man or woman to serve in the military of a free nation . . . that it is a calling that transcends all others because imbedded deep within the soul of every free man or woman is the knowledge that every freedom we have was earned for us by our ancestors, who paid some price for that freedom. Each and every generation must relearn those lessons, and they are best learned by doing. The strength of every free nation depends on this transfer of knowledge. Only through the transfer of knowledge from generation to generation will free men survive."

These are the words of Sgt. Roy Benevides, author of "One Man's Journey from Poverty and Prejudice," and the son of migrant farm workers.

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Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net