Cannon panel discussing immigration controversy

PROVO — A new committee organized to advise Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, on controversial immigration issues immediately set out Tuesday to avoid extremism.

"I'm really encouraged," committee chairman Matt Throckmorton said after the group's first meeting. "You can't say you're for or against (immigration) because there are too many details."

Fourteen committee members discussed emotional topics from border security to amnesty and decided to present their recommendations to Cannon by the end of March. Congress could be ready by then to hold a conference on an immigration reform bill, Cannon's legislative director Matthew Iandoli said.

Cannon wasn't present, but the committee's first meeting appeared to achieve his goal of a frank and open discussion among all sides. If anything appeared to be missing, it was a representative of what several centrist committee members characterized as the extreme right-wing position for closed borders and roundups and deportations of the 11 million undocumented workers in the United States.

Many expected that voice to come from Throckmorton, who mounted intra-party challenges to Cannon in the last two 3rd District election cycles and founded Utahns For Immigration Reform and Enforcement (UFIRE). Throckmorton, who left UFIRE about 18 months ago, made it clear he wanted a tough but measured debate that would seek real answers.

"I think we'll be OK," Throckmorton said. "I hope we get a couple more voices" for tighter border security.

Throckmorton was pleased by the open-mindedness on the committee despite varying viewpoints. He was encouraged by a slight shift in the position of Paul Ahlstrom, a venture capitalist whose mother was born in a Mexican colony settled by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ahlstrom urged the committee to explore the chief causes of illegal immigration, which he said are poor economies and a lack of education in other nations.

"The core issue for these immigrants is a better life for their children," Ahlstrom said early in the meeting. "We need employees and they need jobs. The market is solving the problem. The question is how do we create a better market system, or it's like stopping an ocean with a broom. You can put up as many walls as you want, but it won't solve the problem."

After listening to others discuss Homeland Security issues, he backed off slightly, saying, "I didn't come to this room thinking about border security, but I'm coming around."