A glaring deficiency in the logic of those who support deporting the millions of illegal immigrants now residing in this country is that they do not take into consideration the economic facts: Cheap labor is incredibly valuable to our economy and deporting those who are here illegally is economically unfeasible. Arguments presented to condemn illegal immigrants by proving their detriment to society lack these two very important economic considerations. I am not suggesting that illegal immigration is ever acceptable; I am simply pointing out that it exists now, and if we are to solve the problem, we must appeal to reason, not emotion.

First, many proponents of deporting illegal immigrants cite numbers illustrating remittances to a home country, seemingly saying that because immigrants send some of their money back to their native country they cannot benefit our economy. Not true. As an immigration attorney and member of Congressman Chris Cannon's Immigration Advisory Committee, I have repeatedly heard the plight of farmers, contractors and producers who simply cannot find Utahns to employ. The problem is that our native worker pool consists of individuals who are not willing to slaughter and gut cattle or pick produce or even pour concrete. We need immigrant labor if we, as consumers, are to enjoy hamburgers for $2 instead of $4. This is cheap and efficient labor and it decreases the prices that Utahns pay for homes, furnishings, agricultural products of every type, meat, milk, etc. Cheap labor is incredibly valuable to our economy. I am not suggesting that we exploit immigrant labor, only acknowledge its current value to our economy. Second, the cost of locating and deporting millions of illegal immigrants is too overwhelming to be considered a viable option. Consider that these immigrants do not want to leave and will not be purchasing their own plane tickets. This is an expense that U.S. taxpayers would have to bear. Further, illegal immigrants do not want to be deported so huge amounts of resources would have to be used to overcome their desire to stay in the United States. Let me suggest that comprehensive legislation that utilizes an incentive to bring illegal immigrants forward is much more likely to succeed (for example, a guest worker program). Our goals should be to get every currently employed illegal immigrant into the tax system, and to never allow another illegal entrant into the United States. Again, I am not advocating all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay, only those who are benefiting the United States. Until we replace demagoguery with sound economic reasoning, we cannot adequately provide for the needs of this great country.

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Wesley G. Smith is an immigration attorney at Smith Hammond LLP in Salt Lake City.