About 60 percent of Latinos in Utah are Catholic, while 30 percent are LDS converts, according to Solorzano. He recently published a chapter on the history of Latino immigrants in Utah in a book titled "Beyond the Gateway: Immigrants in a Changing America."

The Catholic Church is among several denominations to espouse views on immigration policy. Noting it does not condone illegal immigration, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops called upon federal policymakers to reform the laws to uphold basic dignity and human rights of immigrants and preserve family unity.

The Most Rev. George Niederauer, who heads the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, says the church does not, however, draw up legislation. "That is the work of the federal government," he said.

Bishop Niederauer noted hypocrisy in the mixed message the United States sends south of the border:

"We will do everything we can to keep you out, but if you make it in, we have a job for you."

The Catholic Church does not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants in its parishes. It considers those who believe and live the faith as Catholics.

"We're not a branch of the U.S. government," he said.

The LDS Church has no formal position on illegal immigration. "We leave those matters to civil authorities," spokesman Dale Bills said.

"This isn't the church's issue," said Elder Pingree, who served as a mission president in Mexico City. "This is the government's issue."

Some Latter-day Saints question the church's baptizing converts and issuing temple privileges to members who are in the country illegally. Potential templegoers must avow to a bishop that they are honest in their dealings with others. Some members can't reconcile church membership and illegal status.

"It's not a problem for me," Pingree said. He made clear that immigration enforcement "is not the role of the church."

Church leaders do not ascertain potential converts' citizenship prior to baptism or temple attendance. They look for commitment to live the tenets of the religion, Pingree says.

The church, he says, does everything it can to encourage its members to stay in their home countries to strengthen local stakes and wards. "But once they're here, we want to make them feel like part of the community, a valued part of the community," Pingree said.

To that end, the church formed a Hispanic Initiative several years ago to help members adjust to life in America. It provides for English classes, helps fund a free health clinic and facilitates pro bono legal services through a law society.

"There's a huge unmet need in this community," Pingree said.

Solorzano applauds the church's efforts in those areas, but some things still gnaw at him.