Deseret News | Utahns want crackdown on illegal immigration

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Utahns want crackdown on illegal immigration

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Mark Batin | 6:38 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

I will not be voting for any politicians that are not tough on this issue. In Utah alone some 50,000 of our children's identities have been stolen and of those stolen 90% were stolen by illegals. Right here in Washington County we have had 2 murders this year committed by illegals, one was my Son. In the past couple of years 5 of the 7 murders committed in Wash. County were committed by illegals. Now you might not think that 5 is a lot of murders but when you figure that 5-10% of our population committed 72% of the Murders in this county I think you can see the problem. It is time to stand up to this problem. Time to make our voices heard, if our government is going to sell us out then we have to show the government who the boss is and vote them out of a job.

CITIZEN JOE | 7:09 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Send the **** illegals back to Old Mexico and let them straighten out their own country. Citizens may charge more for their work but my taxes would be less. One of them even murdered my barber. Ask the local St George Contractors Association why they push so hard for a Sanctuary city. They don't care about St. George, Utah or the USA, they only want to line their pockets.

Willie | 7:19 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Bob G has it right. Fine any emplyer $300 and 3 months in the clink for every illiegal they employ and this problem will go away. They found their way accross the border once and can find their way back if there isn't anything here for them. Exempt farm labor from the penalty.
Ironically, Mexican Americans are the first group to be hurt by illegals, theirs is the first jobs to be taken away. They need to step back & look - this is NOT a racial or discrimination issue. And what happened to that big fence that is already law and financed??? Where is it?

Comments continue below

Sue | 7:23 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

You guys are funny! you think you have it bad in Utah with elegal Mexicans, LOL... Why don't you come to California and find out how bad it is here! Its not all mexicans either some come here to work to make a better life for there families, did you know that a Medical assitance in Mexico gets paid 2 bucks a hour while here its starts out at 9 bucks a hour? even doctors in Mexico get paid lousy gzzz.. give people a break some want to pay taxes and live here legally. I do understand for the ones who break all the laws should be shipped back but let this country stand for what it really is FREEDOM!

Enforce the law ! | 7:44 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

The law is clear.

We need to enforce it !

Local law enforcement needs to be allowed to enforce immigration law.

Either come here legally, or not at all !

fed-up | 7:47 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

simple question : legal vs. illegal
lawbreaker vs. lawabiding
citizen vs. non-citizen
simple answer : do what George Washington did. Use force of arms to defend America from the illegal plague we are suffocating under. We call George Washington a hero and founding father for his actions! Long live George and people like him.

utahkeith | 7:58 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

enforce the laws we already have instead of passing more laws. Having laws don't do any good if we don't enforce them!

Did you know??? | 8:36 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Did you know that it was discovered a couple of years ago that the Mexican government had published a comic style book showing the immigrants how to safely cross the Arizona border? It was being handled out in the border towns! When it was discovered and made public they claimed it was because the people were going to cross anyway and they just wanted them to be safe. (Supposedly the book went away shortly after it's discovery!)
Of course the billions of dollars that the immigrants send back to their families in Mexico had nothing to do with publishing a book of this type to begin with- even though this flow of money is second only to the Mexican oil industry in terms of money flowing into the country. Exporting Mexican workers whether legally or illegally is a huge cash cow for Mexico. The gov't doesn't have to feed them, provide medical care or educate their children, plus they send all this money home to families who remain behind. When do we start holding the government of Mexico accountable?

JR | 8:50 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

My grandson was denied extra assistance in 3rd grade, and the reason being was they had "hispanic children" with greater needs. Now wait a minute my daugher and son-in-law both work but their child does not qualify over the illegal children, who refuse to learn the ways of Americans. I am a LEGAL IMMIGRANT so feel very strongly that my grandchildren are put aside for those who are not paying their full dues in American society

utahnative | 8:54 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Everyone deserves a chance in america, if they do it legally.

How can someone who committed a crime in coming here expect sympathy from us ?

If they want to live here, they need to do it within the bounds of the law, not illegally.

"they" doesn'y just refer to mexicans, it refers to immigrant from any country who want to come here.

Oh and everyone in america had better speak english !

SFC Jorgenson | 9:19 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Send them to bootcamp, give them a weapon, send them to Afganistan and Iraq and let them earn their citizenship. These are the jobs that need filled. Not fast food.

Kenny in Utah | 9:35 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Illegal immigration is the most important issue by far of any and I will vote for the strongest on immigration control regarless of what else they stand for. We don't need more growth, we have enough people. We don't need illegal aliens, nor do we need to grant them amnesty. We don't need to increase legal immigration either, we need to reduce it. We citizens did all the work here when I grew up in Salt Lake. We need to save our culture, language, environment, and quality way of life. Stop this sensless invasion or we will become just like the poverty-stricken overpopulated nations they came from. Why do you think they left? My God people wake up and get off your lazy butts and do something fast!

Glenn Fuller in Arizona | 9:57 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Labeling this an immigration issue is deceptive, and inaccurate IT IS MEXICAN INVASION. The Constitution is clear: "repel invasions" Article I Section 8.15 and "protect from invasion" Article IV Section 4.

Many in Utah are Mormon, and all Christians subscribe, or should, to Jesus admonition, "render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's..." obey the law. The LDS further subscribe, if members being honest to their faith, "we believe in ....honoring and obeying the law". INVASION is NOT LAWFUL. ID THEFT, WELFARE FRAUD, HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFIT STEALING not lawful. There is no need for immigration law changes since they haven't yet been enforced. ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS and SEND THEM BACK.

We fight a war on terror around the world and our citizens terrorized in their own neighborhoods with the MEXICAN OCCUPATION of AMERICA. We need our NATIONAL GUARD military militia on OUR BORDERS. Let IRAQ take care of their own.

Had-e-Nuf | 10:01 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Let me start by agreeing with others that there is a big difference between legal immigration and illegal entry (no such thing as illegal immigration--immigration by definition is legal). I support legal immigration, and have many friends who have immigrated. By and large they integrate themselves into the community and the culture, they learn the language, and they are proud of their new country. Illegals do not have my support. I empathize with them, but their solutions lie with their native country. That country may, in fact, get aid from the U.S. govt or charities I support, but I refuse to accept the premise that we have to have an unlimited "open door" to solve the problems of another nation's poor. The State of Utah needs to aggressively enforce our existing law re employing only citizens or those with a green card, and slam the employers who violate that. As citizens, we need to stop looking the other way when companies with whom we do business are employing illegals. If we all insisted on doing business with compliant companies, how long would they be able to survive with their illegal work force?

Jerry | 10:12 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

I agree with Kenny in Utah. Illegal immigration is the most important issue. I have no issue with people who want to come to this contry legally, but if they do, they should learn the culture of this county and learn the language. People write that lettuce will go to $5.00 a head. If people come here legally what's the problem they can still harvest produce if that's what they want to do. It's those who come illegally, don't pay tax or pay their way that is pulling down the health care and state services and that is not just Hispanic people it is any illegal immigrant. Come to this country pay your fair share and work to become an American Citizen. Take pride in our country and don't try to make it the country you came from, help make this country better.

Uritaata | 10:41 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Policy-makers should be concerned with the effect that illegal immigration has on wages and the labour market, rather than concentrating on controlling their undocumented status only. For illegal immigration to be a burden on the nationï¿½s finances, the burden of providing for welfare (school,hospital,...) would have to exceed the increase in Growth Domestic Product --US wealth they generate for the governements, the business and private citizens. (A clear win for the nation,business and individuals).
I am afraid that behind the declared principles of social costs and taxes, hides the principle of xenophobia and racism--which is more difficult to tackle.

Policy makers should adress both, They should find ways to accommodate the foreign workers while protecting the overall interest of the nation.
As the law is not working and would cost too much to enforce--real and hidden cost-- Law makers of both sides should drop their utopic views of the ideal world and look for a comprehensive pragmatic compromise. That would only be possible through the desire to succeed, by give and take, but without shameful or disreputable concession.

Lane Mier | 10:48 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Our elected representatives need to uphold and defend the Constitution, not find ways and means to get around it like they tried with the whole internet taxation issue. Uphold the rule of law or get out of office. Enough of this drive toward the North American Union at the expense of our sovereignty!!!

NCG | 10:51 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Kenny in Utah; I'm right there with you.

tenx | 10:57 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Only 70%? All the snap polls that I have seen on Channel 2 and 4 come in at about 84%. Looks like some of our elected officials would get the message and start representing the voters position on this important matter. Of the group of 60 people that I hang out with only two are in favor of letting the Illegals cross our borders. Maybe I run with a redneck racist crowd. I'm sure La Raza (The Race) would call me that. The real question is why can't the politicians of our state see what is happening to take down the American way of life. Are they that beholden to the possible vote and the backing of the corporations who are benefiting from the cheap labor at the expense of the American taxpaying citizen? Disgusting!!

Uritaata | 11:10 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Amigos... for those that prone that and ENGLISH ONLY SPEAKING NATION is the only way to go.

Let me also draw your attention that the wealthiest nation in the world has 4 major languages and that its Citizens have been leaving in peace for over 500 years. The multicultural and polyglot nature of the country -Switzerland-- are what made it so successful and peaceful.

Other countries such as Belgium, St Maartens, with similar challenges are doing very well.

Please remember also that on the west side of this country Spanish preceeded english and that may local "mexican farmers" joined Sam Houston in his fight for a free Texas.

tenx | 11:12 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Justin read what Russ has to say about your $5 lettuce. He has it correct. I called one of the suppliers of strawberries last spring and was told about the same thing Russ come up with. On a cup of strawberries it added about 12 cents if you doubled the labor rate. If they did double the labor then the taxpayers wouldn't have to foot the benfits portion of the workers Pay.

Stan Johnson | 11:40 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007

Last fall I married a Ukrainian traveler who soon thereafter returned home because her visa expired. We learned that present immigration laws impose 10 years barrier to entry once any alien overstays an expired visa by 365 days. A related statute similarly denies legal entry for 10 years for any illegal entrant.

My wife and I will spend much time and money to reunite legally. She is learning English to join our community.

None of the well-educated Europeans or Asians seeking opportunity in USA expects their native language to be offered as a second language. In contrast, many Latino immigrants seek USA entry because their lack of education precludes a prosperous life in their native land. A natural-born American should not be required to learn Spanish as a second language to communicate to hired servants--either at home or in the marketplace.

Our officials should send illegals home now to make room for many better educated foreigners who will dedicate themselves to pursue opportunity in America. US Customs and Immigration should not waste resources processing their cases. Plenty of aspiring immigrants are willing to abide by our laws in order to realize the opportunties of the USA.

wrz | 12:05 a.m. Oct. 8, 2007

"Expelling 12 million people will only add chaos."

Take away the magnet (jobs) and the 12 million will mostly expel themselves. With no jobs, there's no need to remain here.

"Labor will be more expensive and prices will shoot up. Try paying $5 for a piece of lettuce, potatoes or tomatoes."

Prices will go up by pennies. And the cost savings in free stuff for illegals, like emergency health care and education, will make up any difference.

Mark Batin | 5:17 a.m. Oct. 8, 2007

I just got a letter on Saturday from Orin Hatch explaining why he was a co-sponsor and why he was for the Dream Act. Bennett voted for cloture on the Shamnesty bill this summer and the Dream Act is just an extension of that Bill that they are trying desperately to attach to any bil they can. I guess I and my family will not be voting for Hatch or Bennett in their next elections.

Evedam | 11:33 a.m. Oct. 8, 2007

I Utah was to expell every illegal immigrant out of the state, then Utah's economy would collapse. But hey if you want the economy to collapse then go for it. In my opinion illegal immigrants are necesssary for the Inited State's economy.

Kris Padreau | 11:54 a.m. Oct. 8, 2007

In the debate surrounding immigration reform we should make a careful distinction between those who truly want to become U.S. citizens and those who come simply for economic opportunity. A good policy could accommodate both. But (relative) poverty, work ethic, family values, should be neither criteria for citizenship nor justification for breaking our laws.

If "compassion" demands that we shelter the world's poor, Hispanics would be near the back of a very long line. (Mexico, for one, is a relatively prosperous country, and exports its poor to the U.S.) And if true diversity is the aim, we should strive to accommodate balanced numbers of immigrants from all parts of the globe, and not just those that can hop a fence on our southern border.

Last, take a look at the current inmate lists for local jails, or stroll through Pioneer Park. Clearly, there are a lot of Hispanic immigrants engaged in crime. While I would concede most are honest and hardworking, there seems to be a lot of ne'r-do-wells in the mix. It's not racist to look at these sort of facts honestly when considering immigration policy.

Donald K. Watson | 2:03 p.m. Oct. 8, 2007

Kenny in Utah is right. People need to wake up and decide if they support the the rule of law or if they support something other than the U.S. Constitution--it cannot be both ways. This country has been invaded by illegal aliens and the latest estimate is up to 38 million persons trying to replace the rule of law with the customs of their country of origin.

Utah is becoming close to being a sanctuary city for these criminals.

Don--Kaysville

Las Vegas | 3:51 p.m. Oct. 8, 2007

It is always the same old argument - and it is stupid. How much do I want to pay for produce? Let me see, anything to not have illegals in the country! We will make do with what we have. I don't even believe that prices would be affected since we have unemployment in every state and welfare too. Finally, those people can find a job.
We do not need to cater to anyone and especially the illegal aliens. We don't care about their vote. Do you know why? THEY CAN'T VOTE!!! My husband is legal and Hispanic and he is against illegal immigration, so I don't believe that Republicans will lose the Hispanic future voters - they should lose though if Republicans don't stop acting like whinning Democrat liberals. We need some Republicans that remember what CONSERVATIVE means and then do their jobs!

Las Vegas | 3:59 p.m. Oct. 8, 2007

That is a myth and completely false that if we remove all the illegal immigrants that the U.S. economy would collaspe. Let's try it and see!!! I'm willing to have a higher standard of living at any expense.

bill m | 11:29 a.m. Oct. 11, 2007

You guys ain't seen nothing yet!!! I live in Los Angeles...Wait until you have a Mexican mayor encouraging illegal immigration publicly...Then you
will be very angry....Keep up the good work....You can probably still have an impact in Utah. Don't be like Los Angeles and wait until immigration becomes the dominant landscape..It's too late for us here as we have already passed the point of no return. You can still make a difference...Never give up...
Good Luck!!

Bill

sick of illegals | 3:02 p.m. Oct. 11, 2007

We bought carpet from a well know national chain. They arranged for the installation. The workers did not speak English and did a terrible job. Seams were showing and baseboards were damaged. It was obvious these men had no training and were probably hired that morning. We finally had to get the state involved when the installation company refused to accept responsibility for the shoddy workmanship. I clean my own house and do my own yardwork. We do not need illegals. What we do need are people like "legal immigrant" who come here legally, speak English and are productive, law abiding citizens.

SCTrojan | 6:54 p.m. Oct. 11, 2007

Don't look to Utah Legislature, Gov. Huntsman, or Attorney General Shurtleff to do a thing about illegal aliens in Utah.

Not when Shurtleff swaggs his finger at an illegal rally and says "a lot of folks think that I should arrest you, I here to tell you that's not going to happen". A few months later he got the Order of the Aztec Eagle Award from Vecente Fox.

THESE DESPOT BUMS NEED TO BE VOTED OUT!

Earl | 11:13 p.m. Nov. 30, 2007

Illegal immagration is about nothing more than greed on the part of the bussiness owner here in Utah. I have worked in the construction industry for over 30 years and seen how bussines owners have chosen illegal workers over legal workers because they thought it would make them richer. But in reality I belive that it costs them quit abit more to hire unskilled workers. When they hire these unskilled workers it increases the responsibility of the skilled worker to get the job done right and ontime because we all know that if we dont we will be out of a job. The biggest problem that I have had is with the illegal activity that happens at the job site such as drugs and gang activity which I belive go hand in hand. I have been threatend more than once at work when I have tried to talk to them and say that they should not be doing what they are doing. I know that they belong to a gang but dont know which one, I see them with the number 13 on some of there belongings. Employers should be ashamed for what they have done to the United States.

george | 4:34 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

We can talk all we want lets start doing something about it. Tha hispanics have rallys lets have one at the capital, keep the pressure on untill our legislator, get the drift. They have no guts, lets vote them out. Iam fed up with them. you VOTE FOR THEM THEN THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT, OR ARE SWAYED TO VOTE ON.

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