Democratic challenger attacks Rep. Jason Chaffetz on immigration

WEST VALLEY CITY — Suggesting that Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is using immigration as a wedge issue for political gain, his Democratic opponent, Karen Hyer, says she would make compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform a top priority.

"He gets too much mileage from his base of Republican convention delegates by talking about concentration-camp-like tent cities and promoting enforcement-only immigration bills," she said at the American Family Fiesta she held Saturday at Centennial Park in West Valley City.

"I believe comprehensive immigration reform, done right, is the only way we'll get complete control of our borders and be able to fully and consistently enforce our laws," Hyer said.

She said she would first seek to fix legal immigration and the long waits required for it. She said people who simply want immigrants to get in line "fail to realize that, at a minimum, that 'line' is extremely burdensome and inefficient, often taking over a decade" to immigrate legally.

About illegal immigrants now here, she said, "We need to say no to amnesty (including by having them pay fines), require that citizenship be earned, improve background checks and tracking, ensure we're not expanding government welfare, have a flexible, efficient system that doesn't displace American workers, and we need to zero in on the real criminals."

Hyer added, "Some people aren't interested in finding real solutions. They want to use the immigration issue for political gain; they're capitalizing on immigration as a wedge issue, or even worse, they're prejudiced, bigoted and intent on spreading fear, hate and misinformation. To those people, I simply say, 'Vote for my opponent.' "

Chaffetz, on his website, says he follows seven principles on the immigration issue: Fix legal immigration; reject amnesty; lock down the border and enforce visas; enforce current laws; remove incentives to be here illegally; give businesses the tools to operate legally; and insist on assimilation.

Chaffetz also says on his website, "I do want to be compassionate toward those who come here seeking a better life. But I will not reward people for breaking the law. If we reward those who follow the rules, more people will do so."

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