From Deseret News archives:
Immigration issue: Opponents & Advocates
Phyllis Sears
In a recent meeting of the Citizens Council on Illegal Immigration in St. George, Phyllis Sears says she took an informal poll of the 50 to 60 people present. About 70 percent said they'd lived in California. Another 20 percent said they'd lived in Arizona.
"What this means to me is you know what's on its way here," she told the group.
"My point is, locals who have only lived here don't have a clue to what's on the way if this doesn't get stopped," said Sears, who moved to St. George eight years ago. She says she has lived all over the world — including Arizona, New Mexico and California. She retired after resigning from the City Council in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Sears started the St. George group about a year ago. The council rewards businesses that don't hire illegal immigrants.
Many of her group's members, like her, are retirees who have time to devote to the anti-immigration movement.
Other members include "blue collar workmen" who lost jobs, and a postman who says his 11-year-old daughter was raped by an illegal immigrant.
"I realize that most of these illegals from Mexico are just farm workers . . .. Most are decent, good people. Unfortunately, 10 to 20 percent are not."
Mike Sizer
For Utah County resident Mike Sizer, the immigration debate is personal.
His mother was one of the last people to escape from East Germany before the Berlin Wall went up, and she left her family behind.
Many of those relatives now want to emigrate, in large part because of Germany's 10 percent unemployment rate.
"The job situation in Germany has actually become tougher," Sizer said. "They have very high taxes. Jobs are difficult to come by."
While visiting, some of those relatives have told Sizer the United States isn't serious about immigration laws, so they might as well just stay. Sizer has, at least for now, convinced them that illegal immigration isn't the way to go.
Some of Sizer's relatives have unsuccessfully applied for a visa lottery, but the odds of winning are bleak. According to the U.S. State Department, slightly less than 6 million people applied for visas that became available Sept. 30.
Family sponsorships, if they're available, can take years for family members other than a spouse, minor children or parents.
But still, Sizer said, "I think we're a pretty generous nation when it comes to immigration. We're the most generous nation."
Alex Segura
As a Hispanic, Alex Segura stands out in the Utah Minuteman Project crowd of mostly non-Hispanic, white senior citizens.
But he is one of Utah's most vocal advocates for sealing the border and for tougher enforcement of the nation's immigration laws.
