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Compassion call could affect immigration bills

I hope the LDS Church is not asking us to turn a blind eye to the problem of illegal immigration in Utah. St. George, which has become a safe haven city for illegals, now has a growing Latino gang problem. The violence will only increase as the population of illegals increases. I don't doubt that many illegals are hard working people trying to support their families, but they're taking jobs away from U.S. citizens who are also trying to support their families.

The people of Utah are picking up the tab for businesses who hire their cheap labor. Every time you write a check to your health insurance, just remember that part of what you pay is going to support their "free" health care. Hospitals can't turn them away, and they recoup their loses by making the insured pay more for their health care. If one of these illegals hits you in his car, who do you think is going to pay? Certainly not them. Compassion usually comes with a great big price tag.

If you eliminate the crime problem, overcrowding at schools with the increase in property taxes, the frequent fatal DUI's, I wouldn't have any problem being "compassionate" on illegals either.
The churches have as an area of concern the entire world, not the interests of a single people or state, and they don't have to worry about paying taxes on property. The rest of us can't afford to be so generous,
Read the crime reports, and who is behind the wheel of those vehicles fueled by alcohol, talk to a cop, get informed. Before you know it, your kids will have no choice but to be placed in bilingual classes, if enrolled in public schools. That means they lose a half a year, every year because of the slow progress when a teacher has to speak in two languages. It's the rule in many AZ and CA school districts. There is a reason the dropout percentage is 75% for hispanics and 20% for whites.

It is hard to believe that nane of the ither party did not come with an proposal to stop the deportation of the undocumented alians who has no criminal record....

Compassion is a wonderful thing and we should all become more caring towards our fellow human beings. However, should compassion towards illegal aliens be allowed to erode the rule of law and cause problems for others? How far should it go? The rest of us are human beings too and deserve to live in an orderly and safe environment protected by the rule of law.

As I think legislators have already been very compassionate in considering these anti-illegal immigration bills, I do not understand why this additional call for compassion has been made. I have listened to the floor debates and was impressed by the courteous, compassionate and thoughtful deliberation of the issues.

As other states enact strict anti-illegal immigration laws and these folks leave those states, we will be faced with an even larger influx of illegal aliens if we don't do something about the problem. We cannot afford to wait!

Surely the LDS Church leaders and Bishop Wester can see that illegal immigration is out of control and is adversely affecting the rest of us. Aren't our families equally deserving of compassion?

"Measure twice before you cut"

It has been measured for five years. The longer the problem exists, the deeper resentment will build. For everyones sake it has to be resolved one way or the other this year.

Write our legislators and tell them not to put their compassion on the wrong sector of our society and state. Our legislators must also have compassion for the citizens and legal workers in this state. The illegal aliens are doing quite well as illgals and do not support or pay taxes that the laws require. Busines enterprises are at the front of the line to gain support for the illegals and disregard the american citizens that need jobs and job security. We need compassion for the americans that every illegal is imitating and victimizing by being present in this state. These illegals use every means at their disposal to victimize the citizens and government sponsered services meant for the citizens of this country. Our legislators must take action to discourage the illegals from becoming a burden to the tax payers that are being forced by 'political correctness' to avoid calling them a plague and curse to the american people. Give them no quarters and put your compassion on the american people, not the illegal aliens from Mexico and beyond. The american people are the ones suffering and in need of help, the illegals are on a free ride.

Like I've said before, I used to have no tolerance for people who are here illegally. That was before I started studying the scriptures. Now, I don't agree with the attitude 'round them up and ship them out' of more than 12 million illegal immigrants or aliens or whatever you want to call them. Kudos to the Church for asking the legislature's consider the humane and compassionate teachings of our Saviour.

Yo, s�, tengo compasi�n. Ha habido seria y prolongada consideraci�n de las consecuencias de las propuestas normas. La promulgaci�n de cada una de ellas es esencial. Sin embargo, todas �stas ser�n a�n insuficientes para prevenir la destrucci�n de nuestro modo de vivir. Consta que acci�n seria y oportuna, al nivel federal, es requisito para evitar el desastre que asecha nuestra p�tria. El destrozo del pa�s que, no obstante sus numerosas fallas, constituye guardi�n de la universal > ser�a falta verdadera y completa de compasi�

If anyone actually needs to have the question of whether the legislature works for the people of Utah or the LDS church,here's your defining moment.
Nothing the legislature is working on at present goes beyond existing law and good sense policy,and what the church is asking for is to give illegals a pass on law breaking. So, here's the choice Utahans- do we live in a democracy or a theocracy?
If the latter,I can assure you there will be a huge backlash from those of us who insist on government conforming to the broader principles of a secular democracy.
Think on this- inside of 20 years,non LDS will be the majority in Utah... does it serve you better to have a constituency of illegals on your side,or a non hostile group of 'gentiles' to work with?
Rational thought dictates that illegals be treated as such,and the LDS church needs to work its theology within that framework. At present,the church is contravening the firewall between religion and state.
Please work past your knee jerk reactions and THINK ABOUT the repercussions of acceding to these pressures.

Its nothing other than mean spirited that someone who grew up here has to pay out of state tuition. I would have hoped for more from predominately LDS legislators. It is the democrats though (predominately non LDS) that are voting against this. Cudos to the church itself for advocating the right thing.

I guess the democrats and the non LDS are the Samaritans among us. Funny how Jesus parable so aptly applies here.

Here we go again with the same issue many say doesn't happen. Church and State interactions. Please let lawmakers do their work without outside influence. This makes me sick when it happens. There have been way to many state issues that have had this intervention in the past. These kind of heavy handed responces are what turns outsiders off about our state.

charity begins at home. If we can't allocate enough resources to properly educate our own children, it's inhumane and irresponsible to allow those who are not here legally to siphon off education resources. If we can't fully fund the needs of our own disabled, it's inhumane and irresponsible to allow those who are not here legally to siphon of social services funds. It's not inhumane to enforce the law. And if we had a law similar to what AZ and OK have, those here illegally would more likely leave on their own accord. Enforcing the law can be done in a humane manner.

It is interesting we seem to have implied that there is no middle ground here. We cannot be compassionate and enforce the law? No one is stopping immigration, all I would like to see is that it happen legally. In this move for "compassion" which seems to be let anyone into this country who can get here, give them all the rights of a citizen, and open the door to every social program we have. Those who advocate "compassion" need to look at what it is costing us in terms of money spent on education, health care, automobile insurance (most drive and do not have car insurance) corrections etc. Lets not forget, not everyone coming across the border is a honest hard working person just trying to give there children a better life. I have seen estimates as high as 50% of those crossing are involved in crime.

Come on people lets wake up here. Yes these are people, yes some of them are trying to build a better life for their families, yes I am sympathetic to them, but they are breaking the law, and as a matter of principle we should not reward them for breaking the law.

Their is good and bad in every race. Identify the bad and deport them. Identify the good and give them a path to citizenship (and a temporary SSN #) so that they can pay taxes, be employed legally w/benefits so that they aren't getting free health care and other free benefits. I do believe that there should be consequences for breaking the law (entering the country illegally). They could pay a fine which could be deducted from their pay over time. Oh yeah....and SECURE THE BORDER.

I wonder if when we stand before the judgement bar and are asked what we did to or for our fellow men, will it work well for us to say that we worked hard to enforce the rule of law? Compassion is a good thing, but the rule of law must be followed, we might say to He who judges us, to which He might say, "Yes, yes, I see your point." I know for one that if the judge of mankind was weighing me in the balance, I would hope that mercy and compassion would work for me and that His sacrifice might satisfy the rule of law. It would be a terrible thing to be judged in the same manner that I judge others. So good luck on that.

Did the Brethren offer a solution to the byproducts of illegal aliens? Not that I could see. It is great to take an illegal to lunch and find out about their life, but where does that leave us? Really. Long term, what do we achieve by taking a soft stand?

The Church has hit and run with their input, but isn't going to write checks to school districts or pay to keep hospitals open, or subsidize the social services.

If they want to help, have them set up an assisted program for self-deportation. Preach the 12th Article of Faith and explain how to liquidate assets and return home in an orderly fashion. Then call on the Saints to add to the fast offering to assist those who have returned home. $50 goes a long way when $1,400 a year is the average annual salary.

Now, THAT would be proactive on the part of the church.

If the church leaders want to pony up the cost of what this immoral, illegal invasion costs the citizens of this state, then I would look at this situation in a different light. They did the same thing years ago regarding pari mutuel horse racing. If the Church has these strong of feelings for these issues lets see the color of their money to subsidize the state coffers for the expenses it costs the state in this issue, and in the case of pari mutuel revenue losses they took away, make that up with cash for estimated revenue loss. Put up or shut up.

I think we all know these are human beings but there is a difference between compassion and ignoring the law. I would like to see the books of all of the business leaders who want to "just forget" this bill. It would be interesting to see how much they are paying the illegal residents. I would but they are not making regular wages. As a compassionate human being I wonder if these wonderful leaders aren't creating a race of "slave labor workers" People who they can pay a fraction of what "Americans" get. I am against that also. Be compassionate yes but for crying out loud enforce the law. If your here illegally your committing a crime. Legalize, go home or let's get ICE to deport them. In order to be a responsible human being you must be held accountable for your conduct. You shouldn't be able to come here, break our laws and profit from the many years Americans have worked and labored to build the greatest nation on Earth.

It is clearly wrong to make children suffer for the crimes of their parents. We should treat the children who graduate from Utah high schools equally but that does not mean anything about going after their parents. Entering this country without permission and taking up residence without documentation is a crime. Crimes should be punished. Criminals should be apprehended. Being undocumented means you are a criminal. It is admirable that the children of criminals want to go to college. It would be even more admirable if their parents stopped being criminals and showed their children some respect for the rule of law.

There are times when Church leaders, who are not perfect, bend over backwards to pander to the left. The concealed carryon issue was one; illegal immigration is another.

This is not an issue that the Church can win over with legal immigrants and law-abiding members. However, it will please illegals and the left (who are most often the Church's biggest critics).

Clearly, the Church does not want to offend the millions of illegals in this country, which would happen if it were to side with, say, Mitt Romney's proposal.

I believe it would haveb been better to (as they so often proclaim) remain politically neutral.

Instead, they will unfortunately face opposition by those legislators (and members) who've been taught from the pulpit to obey, honor and sustain the law.

In my opinion, this decision to become political activists on this issue was poorly developed. Stupid is more appropriate, but not politically correct.