Immigration policy should reflect Utah's values

To some it's about compassion and fairness; to some it's about the law; and to others it's about the work force and the economy. It's immigration policy. And now Utah has added the voice of the business community to those of church leaders and social organizations.

This conflict is triggered by the dramatic changes brought about by globalization, which has now made our public policies — which once served us well — ineffective, and which pits citizens against each other. It is encouraging to see our businesses, religious leaders and others coming together to find ways to solve the problem of immigration. They realize the need to renew public policies so they solve today's problems consistent with our cherished values. "One purpose of social change is to find new solutions that will preserve old values." (John W. Gardner)

Last week, Lane Beattie, the president of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, kicked off the Immigration Policy Coalition, composed of business leaders from the state's key organizations, along with religious, service and nonprofit organizations. The IPC's purpose is "to advocate sensible and balanced immigration reform." He called for support for state Sen. Scott Jenkins' bill, SB97, which would create a legislative task force to study immigration thoroughly and which also is supported by the Sutherland Institute.

Beattie said immigration is a complex issue and its reform should be done using "the carpenter's motto: Measure twice, cut once. We support efforts to protect our borders, improve worker verification systems and enact a temporary guest-worker program. Those of us in the business community care about the human interests at stake. Many of the policy choices impact families and children, which in turn would have implications on social services, health care and business. We must recognize that our policies have very real human and family implications."

It is encouraging to see our community leaders from various segments come together to thwart the draconian solutions such as those being proposed by some legislators, which only diminish us as a caring society. America has always seen immigration as a means of meeting our work-force and economic needs. We should advocate for and renew immigration policies that are consistent with our values and promote the public good rather than allowing others to mold the debate with their negative, one-size solutions. Rather than blame Washington politicians for our outdated immigration laws and do nothing, we should do what we Utahns have always done — roll up our sleeves and solve our own problems. After all, the solutions are not in Washington; they're in local communities like ours. Utah could lead the way.