Deseret News | Local leaders rally for federal immigration reform

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Local leaders rally for federal immigration reform

Dixie Dan | 8:09 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

One of the crowning achievements of President Reagan's administration was passing the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 which was suppose to stop illegal immigration. What happened to that law and why isn't it being enforced?

BJ | 8:35 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Yes dan what did happen to that law. The goverment is to willing and ready to accommadate. If you are an illegal in the United States and you are found they send you back only for you to return again. We need to make english the official language. Increase our funding for INS and our border patrol. I am the child of immigrants and if they had to learn english and study to become citizens so should everybody else. The US makes it too easy for them by accommadating to their wants instead of the other way around.

FedUp | 8:37 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Why is it that "immigration reform" means "lets find a way to let everyone illegally living in our country to become citizens for free". Let's try a new approach: If you come to this country you WILL register with our government so they can tax you like the rest of us. If you do not have proper ID to show you are registered you do not get into our hospitals for free, you and your kids don't go to our schools for free, if you have a baby here its not an American citizen just because you are here for a visit, you don't get free food stamps, power, or gas, and you certainly don't get a drivers license or the right to any say in how WE run OUR country. I'm all for allowing hard working people into the USA its how most of us got here. But it is time the taxpaying citizens of the United States are given the benefits of their hard work and honest living, not people that managed to sneak in for free.

Comments continue below

Silva | 9:14 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Many people give up their lives to gain citizenship here. We should not allow it to be stolen from those who want to stand in line and come here according to the law.

We have the E-Verify system to assure that the 10% of Americans out of work will get available jobs.

During a time of hardship, giving citizenship freely to those who have stolen it, does not make sense.

DesYank | 10:21 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Dan, you summed it up like a proffesional analyst. God bless you for your brevity.

Enforce the laws. | 5:17 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

The only reform we need with illegal foreign nationals forcing their way into this country is enforcement of the law.

What gives these illegals any right to address our elected government officials? None. If an illegal does not like our laws they must leave then file their dislikes with their country's embassy. Not with our government officials representing the american citizens. Illegal is criminal and there is no way around it. Breaking the laws then adjusting the law to suit them is criminal and an affront to me as an american. These illegals have no patriotism or even a desire to assimilate in america, they are a thriving criminal industry.

The only problem is that the majority of our legislators are criminal themselves in their private business who are employing illegal aliens to subvert and destroy the american working class. This is why they are denying americans their rights and a job in their businesses, for cheap tax free illegal labor.

Citizen | 7:32 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

I came here legally and am now a proud citizen. I waited in line for YEARS, worked multiple jobs to pay for processing/travel, learned english and studied American history while waiting. America has been very good to me. I paid and earned my way. I also wanted to escape from abject poverty. It infuriates me that illegals overstay their visitor visas or cross the border illegally. I don't care where they came from, they need to be deported and they can take their american born children with them or leave them with legal residents, its their choice and a consequence of their illegal behavior. It's an issue of fairness and justice.

Law Enforcement | 8:38 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

I think we should hire Joe Arpaio, here in Utah and replace the Salt Lake Police Chief. Maybe then we can find and deport those who are here illegally. I want to be compassionate but let's start by enforcing the laws and then working to reform immigration to allow people to come here legally. I used to live in Rose Park/Glendale many years so and it was a lovely little area of lower income homes. Now it's nothing but a ghetto which is such a shame. I welcome legal immigrants but not illegal lawbreakers who are polluting our city and state and taking advantage of our generosity.

Back of the line | 10:20 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Even Obama promised while running and now at the President's website that anyone here illegally will have to go to the back of the line.

We must remove any incentive or reward to come and be in the US illegally.

To enforcer | 10:29 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

It is not a CRIMINAL offense to enter the U.S. without papers, only a CIVIL offense. It is something akin to a traffic ticket. SO PLEASE STOP SCREAMING "CRIMINAL" WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE LAW!

Xavier Onassis | 10:44 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

For the criminally naive, "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" means another amnesty, nothing more.

No more amnesty! | 10:46 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Amnesty would be an extremely foolish move. We’ve been there and done that and it didn’t work. Look where it got us.

A new Zogby International poll of Mexican citizens living in Mexico found that the majority of them believe an amnesty will encourage more Mexicans to cross the border illegally. Further, 69 percent of those polled think their countrymen living in the US should show their primary loyalty to Mexico, not the US.

I don’t know about you but I see a problem here. Loyal-to-Mexico but now-legalized Mexicans would then vote in elections for policies that benefit Mexico or Mexicans in the US, rather than all US citizens.

I welcome good folks from anywhere and think that controlled and sensible legal immigration that requires assimilation and learning English can be a very good thing. However, legalizing people who are not loyal to this country but whose hearts belong to another nation is a recipe for disaster.

No more amnesty!

Anonymous | 10:52 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Amen to every single one of these comments. It takes a lot of nerve to stand up & demand ANYTHING for people who are here illegally.

Joel | 10:53 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

The international community, the United Nations, and the United States all agree that Mexico has a few wrinkles and warts, but that it is a nice place to live. It also has the world 13th economy.

We also know the illegal aliens are drawing a huge amount of welfare when they get here. The Federal Government is afraid of racism so they won't tell us how much, which means it has to be far greater than we imagine. Very, very clearly, the illegal aliens and their wives can go home and live a decent life in Mexico and so, there is NO issue about keeping the family together, but the welfare is a terrible, terrible draw that may well be influencing everyone on where those families should live.

And it is odd.. no one has stepped forward and volunteered to pay that welfare. They want the American Taxpayer to pay it. Lets do as the laws suggest we do: lets deport them.

G. Stevens | 11:19 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Typical subterfuge on the part of the DN to report “thousands” in D.C. but not mention that only a handful showed up in Utah. Obviously, the vast majority of U.S. Citizens do not support any form of amnesty–no matter how it is camouflaged.

Anonymous | 11:21 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

The Chamber of Commerce doesn't want reform. Business uses the labor and loves the cheap wages. Start with them.

Joe blow | 11:26 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

To enforcer @10:29 am

Actually it is a criminal offense. They have broken the law, even a trafice ticket is a criminal offense. that is why when you get
a ticket you have a record on file with the court and justice system.. Civil offenses are usualy between two or more litigants such as a lawsuite.

Saintly Gent | 11:32 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

It's time for Jesus to come back and take care of our problems once and for all.

John | 11:33 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

LaRaza means "THEE RACE" !!
What do you think they are pushing ?!
Think about it for a second !
How difficult is it to understand the word "ILLEGAL" ? It's not rocket science.
Granting legal status to the illegals would cause a flood that will ruin our society !

Nathan | 11:48 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

We should jail all illegal immigrants residing in the state of Utah. The American border should be guarded heavily like East and West Germany was. We should have military along with Border Patrol shooting anyone trying to cross over. Illegal immigrants have no business within the borders of the U.S.A.

Dear "Citizen" and the rest ... | 11:49 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Good for you...BUT...

Not everyone has the opportunity to "work" and "wait" you, of all people should be most greatful. But to judge all the rest...short sighted.

"I waited in line for YEARS, worked multiple jobs to pay for processing/travel, learned english and studied American history while waiting. America has been very good to me. I paid and earned my way."

MY wife came illegally to escape abuse and abuse of our children. She PAID twice to come legally, the Gov took her money (hard earned) and then said NO. There is NO LINE...it is a lottery. Luck of the draw and having $ money and knowing what answers to give. The SYSTEM is obnoxious, rude and unworkable. Everyone who "KNOWS" the system knows this to be true. Most illegals pay taxes. They buy homes, cars, food, clothes and contribute to the economy. FACT: TEXAS & ARIZONA PROFIT from illegals, when all facets of illegal immigration are taken into account, the state comes out in the black, not the red! Anyone who says otherwise is uneducated or uninformed.

Keep the Golden Rule. Do unto others.

Walk a mile in another's shoes! Help God's children!

Those against helping | 11:53 a.m. Oct. 14, 2009

If you think sending all illegals home is what Christ would do...

If you think closing your eyes and hearts to your brother is best...

"Whatsoever ye do unto the least of these, your bretheren, ye have also done unto me."

Fix the system, help those who are good, improve the system for the future, and don't make these decisions out of fear and bad information.

Don't live by fear. God will take care of you....

help God take care of his children--illegal or otherwise.

native american | 12:00 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

as a navajo veteran I find myself standing in line behind this wave of illegals. my grandfather was a code talker yet he stood in line..now the line gets bigger for the citizens themselves! With word out on this measure all the relatives of these people will be jumping the fence again and headed right for Utah as other states have passed laws to deter them. Enough is Enough they had ample opportunity to get what they could and times are hard. America do the right thing and take care of your own first..naturally these hispanic speakers will always speak smooth rhetoric to stall for more time! There are americans like my children who are being turned away from entering the job market because they don't click with these people and are often the only ones who know english so tha is often a barrier as the new code talkers take care of their own and kick my people to the back of the bus once again! This announcement bougth and paid for by the sacrifice, blood of my people in a time of war , I didn't see them in my fox hole!!

Fed up | 12:02 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

We should ship them all back, but if those who stay actually learn English, can we finally stop printing everything in two languages???!!! Why do we pander to them?

alan | 12:22 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Its easy for the Mexicans to jump the fence and get into USA.What about our families who cant come here to visit?.It takes our family 10 years to get approval from the INS while the MEXICANS can get in here in 10 seconds.This is not digesting well with us.

Reality | 12:45 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

The problem is not that a business needs labor, they need/want exploitable labor. A legal immigrant is not exploitable. Unless there is some action on the demand side, the supply will keep coming.

Citizen | 1:55 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

To the person who responded about his wife escaping abuse: No-one said that the application process was easy, cheap or welcoming but eventually it does work and I came from communist Eastern Europe where I experienced persecution. I waited over 10 years. No-one is above the law, including your wife. She had no right to come here illegally, she should have pursued resources in her own country. She couldn't have "escaped" to anywhere except America? Sorry but I don't buy your sob sorry. As for buying houses, clothes, food etc, they are doing it with money from jobs they shouldn't have in the first place. I still say send them all back to get in line and there is a line, not a lottery. You obviously don't know the process.

Christian | 2:01 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

People seem to forget that honesty is also a Christian value and there is nothing honest about violating the laws of another country to benefit yourself. Illegals are criminals, they violate our immigration laws, they work illegally often by stealing the social security #'s of others, they take advantage of our social services, health care and education systems. I have no problem with govt. policies which help struggling countries but if you want to live in America, do it legally.

Sterling | 2:25 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Lets see: They break the law sneaking over the border to get here. Then they commit fraud and/or steal from Americans via WIC, food stamps, free healthcare, free education, free school lunches, etc. They send every dollar they make back across the border. They take jobs that Americans (facing 10% unemployment)need. I think its a GREAT idea to discuss "immigration reform" - just as soon as the illegals are either: a)in prison, or: b)sent back over the border.
The illegal immigration issue, and the federal governments' refusal to do their job, is one of the BIG reasons Utahns, (and other Americans)no longer trust their own government!
Its absolutely ludicrous when state govt. wonders why they can't pay for needed services for its LEGAL residents when they GIVE AWAY state services to ILLEGAL residents!

whatever | 2:49 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

i wish that everyone would get one thing straight that not illegals are Mexican and not all Mexicans are illegal. And also for those of you who think we should "ship them all back" think about it really would do to our country and how much we would lose. because again its not just the Mexicans. Canadians can live here torally illegal and no one would ever suspect it think about that before you replace the word illegal with Mexican

To Whatever | 4:06 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

People clearly understand that not all illegals are Mexican/Latino or whatever the prevailing, politically correct word of the week is. All illegals should all be deported no matter what their country of origin is, white, black, brown, yellow should come here legally.

Anonymous | 8:51 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I read all the comments... I'm feel half and half about the immigration reform. Why? Even though we demand the illegal to be sent back to whatever country they come from, they are the ones that CAN do ODD jobs that are paid at minimum wage or below minimum wage. They are the ones that endure the hardships that we complain most about. They are the ones that CAN make any job run smoothly.

On the other hand, they do take and take from the government. They are the ones that lower the poverty level for anyone. We, as U.S. citizens, earn our way to make a good living in the states. They do need to learn english. They need to work their way up to get the citizenship they deserve. I've seen a good neighborhood look BAD and unsafe.

Re: Those against helping | 9:16 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Were you aware that at least half of the 9/11 hijackers had either entered the country illegally or had overstayed their visas and were staying here illegally?

They were "children of God", too.

I know of no scripture where Jesus said it's okay to do nothing and allow criminals to get away with murder.

south of the border | 12:22 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

get your answers there, play your music free there, but don't thread on me!

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