Lawmakers drop the ball on immigration
John Florez
Because there seemed to be a sense of civility before the session started, I was hoping the important challenges our state faces — education, a changing workplace, health, environment, transportation, big-picture matters — would be openly debated. It would go far in renewing the public's trust in its government.
Voters realize that the issues will change and new decisions must be made; all they expect is that legislators make them based on the principles that guide their moral compass.
Like Charlie Brown, fooled again. Shortly after the session started, bills were filed that appeared not to consider the unintended consequences on issues such as illegal immigration. Because the issue brings out strong emotions on both sides, often the purpose and the principles of the legislators are lost or compromised. Those who are adamant about immigrants being in this country illegally say they simply want to enforce the law.
What seems incongruous is there are those who claim to be defenders of the law yet violate the basic principles they purport to be defending. Now a legislator has ordered an audit to determine how many children might be here illegally and getting a free education. By doing so, the lawmaker is telling state school officials to break the federal law that prohibits them from asking the legal status of a student.
It makes the zealous pursuit by some to follow the law appear disingenuous; furthermore, when a legislator tries to remain anonymous in ordering an audit it becomes a matter of violating basic principles of accountability and openness in government.
Apparently, the lawmaker in question has not taken the time or realized that those children in today's classroom are the future work force of the state. This becomes a critical policy issue when Utah employers are struggling to find skilled and knowledgable workers. In the same news day as the announcement of the audit, there were articles on how American workers are not eager to work overtime and on weekends. On the other hand, you see Latino parents willing to work in subzero weather to build homes, buildings, roads and doing it willingly and on the cheap.
If lawmakers are serious about stopping illegal immigration, they ought to start with the source — employers wooing Latinos to come fill the jobs that go vacant.
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