Children, delegates urge governor to veto Utah illegal immigrations bills

SALT LAKE CITY — While shaking Gov. Gary Herbert's hand, kindergartner Alex Navarro delivered a message: "I don't want to separate families."

"I don't want to either," Herbert replied.

Alex was among a dozen children of undocumented immigrants and several adults who showed up outside the governor's office hoping to hand him letters condemning the enforcement-only illegal immigration bill lawmakers passed last week. Herbert emerged from his office for a few minutes to greet the youngsters and listen to what they had to say.

Children weren't the only ones bending the governor's ear over illegal immigration Tuesday. About 90 Republican delegates furious over the Legislature's passage of a guest worker bill arranged an audience with him later that day. They want him to veto HB116 because they say it grants amnesty to illegal immigrants.

Utah County delegate Brandon Beckham, who organized the meeting, said afterward Herbert listened, "but I don't know if he has the will to do what is right."

Going against the will of delegates, he said, would spell "political suicide" for Herbert.

"We won't support the governor if he signs the bill. We won't support him in an election. We won't support him in a convention," Beckham said.

While Herbert didn't mind reporters watching him interact with the children, his staff asked Beckham to escort the media from the room before he arrived.

Applause could be heard several times during the 30-minute meeting. Beckham said it was for delegate comments, not anything Herbert said. He "danced around a lot," Beckham said.

Delegates said Herbert made no promises. His spokeswoman, Ally Isom, said the governor will carefully study the bills before making a decision.

"I think he's going to sign it either way," said Dan Deuel, a GOP delegate from Ogden.

Both delegates and the children who met with Herbert want the same thing but on different bills.

"My grandpa really likes you. So I think you are a good guy. Please don't sign HB497 because it will hurt my community," 8-year-old Cuouhtemoc Barrientos read to the governor from his handwritten letter.

"I applaud you for being involved and letting me know your feelings," Herbert told the children. "We're trying to decide right now what to do."