Discussion on immigration reform
This Saturday, a group of immigrants and refugees will discuss immigration reform at the first Citizens' Council on Immigration meeting. That meeting will be followed by a gathering of concerned citizens, and at a later meeting, the two groups will come together and attempt to reach consensus.
"It's basically an exercise in democracy," said Josie Valdez, administrator of the mayor's Office of Diversity. "The mayor is saying, 'OK, people who are affected by this: What would you like to see?"'
However, in St. George, Phyllis Sears who heads a group with a similar name, said she was "very curious" about Anderson's choice for a name for the new group. Her group, the Citizens' Council on Illegal Immigration, has been active in Washington County for three years, with two primary goals: enforce existing laws and close the border between the United States and Mexico.
"I don't think anyone would mistake that group for ours," Sears said of the new Salt Lake City group. "We clearly state we are working on illegal immigration ... I think what they are trying to do up there is work toward other solutions than enforcing our laws."
As Congress continues to stall, states and cities are molding their own laws to solve a federal issue, Valdez said, although the hope remains that Congress will act.
The aim of Anderson's group will be to brainstorm ideas for solutions to recommend to the state Legislature and to Congress. All meetings will be public, Valdez said, and a fourth meeting in early September will be opened to public comment.
She acknowledged that it will be a challenge for those citizens who strongly oppose illegal immigration and immigrants to see eye to eye. But Valdez said the forums will provide "a way we can have the people's voice heard."
"The whole goal is to reach consensus," she said. "We don't want the first group to feel harassed or intimidated, but we don't want the second group to feel marginalized."
E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com
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