A 'fake' crisis?The position of Eric Samuelson regarding
illegal immigrants is extremely misguided and ignorant. His thinking is
to just open the borders and issue everyone a green card. READ THE LETTER Burbank Bad ExampleDeseret News May 30, 2010Chris Burbank should be immediately removed from office. He not only supports Salt Lake City as a sanctuary city, but his support of those who encourage the violation of existing law makes him unworthy of this trusted position. READ THE LETTER News plays mind gamesDeseret News May 30, 2010Do you get the impression that the illegal alien immigration scenario is an out-of-control quagmire that could result in a confrontation that few, if any, want to see? The problem, as I see it, is the pandering media, the irresponsible businesses and the selfish politicians looking for votes READ THE LETTER Fire the police chiefsDeseret News May 28, 2010 The meeting Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with the attorney general
and chiefs of police — including Chief Chris Burbank of Salt Lake City
— should be called the "how not to do your job summit." READ THE LETTER A certifiable citizenrySL Tribune May 27, 2010 When approached by a police
officer, no one is more apprehensive than me. Nonetheless, I would be
thrilled if, when an officer approached me, he asked for proof of my
right to be in the country. I'd think, "What? You mean my citizenship
counts for something? The government cares that many citizens think
there are enough people in this country?READ THE LETTER Stepped on our laws
SL Tribune May 9, 2010 With Arizona's new
immigration legislation, much of the Hispanic community suddenly
decided that laws are important. But what of the laws that illegal
immigrants disregarded to get to the United States? It's convenient to
ignore one law yet demand changes to another. You can't have your cake
and eat it, too. I am a Mexican immigrant, and I support Arizona's law. READ THE LETTER Undocumented thievesSL Tribune May 5, 2010 Those who come illegally are
thieves, not "undocumented workers." If you roll out of Walmart with a
cart of groceries without paying, are you a thief or just an
"undocumented shopper"? If you can't respect our laws in coming to
America, how can we believe you'll respect them once you're here?READ THE LETTER Require documentationDeseret News May 2, 2010 The way to solve illegal immigration is obvious. Remove the incentives for coming to the United States illegally. READ THE LETTER Stop tide of illegalsDeseret News May 2, 2010 The only thing a person in Arizona has to fear from this new law is being illegal and being caught. READ THE LETTER Arizona law long overdueDeseret News April 29, 2010 Several weeks ago, my son-in-law — a track coach at the University of
Arizona in Tuscon — was driving to work. Another car ran a stop sign
and collided with him. Both cars were totaled, but fortunately no one
was seriously injured. The driver and passenger of the other car could
not speak English. The driver could not produce a driver's license,
proof of insurance or any identification READ THE LETTER Arizona law a modelDeseret News April 29, 2010 Perhaps if we lived in Arizona, where illegal immigrants are pouring
into the state, we might be encouraged because the state is finally
trying to curb such illegal practices. Where is the Deseret News
editorial opinion's compassion for the people who are legally living
there? READ THE LETTER LDS and immigrationSL Tribune April 28, 2010 Two powerful opposing forces
are about to converge. First, the recently stated position of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that no undocumented aliens
will be turned away; second, the new law in Arizona that gives local
law enforcement officers sweeping powers to identify and incarcerate
undocumented (aka illegal) aliens. READ THE LETTER Protecting bordersDeseret News April 27, 2010 As I predicted, the states will make laws and begin enforcing
immigration law because of the failure of the last two administrations
in D.C. to enforce federal law and protect our borders. READ THE LETTER LDS ImmigrantsSL Tribune April 22, 2010
I was appalled after recently reading this 2008 statement by Elder
Marlin K. Jensen, a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints: "The church's view of someone in undocumented status
is akin, in a way, to a civil trespass." READ THE LETTER The real BennettSL Tribune April 18, 2010
Victims of illegal alien crime? Bennett sponsored an amendment to the 2006 Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act that shields religious groups from responsibility
for crimes committed by illegal "volunteers." READ THE LETTER Send killers back homeDeseret News April 10, 2010 (Select "UT Alien Crime" on the sidebar to see documentation) Has anyone else noticed? Most murders in our Utah community over the
past few years have been by illegal immigrants. These are mostly men
with past criminal convictions — sometimes from multiple states. Read More Don't hire undocumentedDeseret Morning News April 4, 2010 Here is a simple solution for solving the problem of illegal
immigration in our state, communities and country: Exercise personal
responsibility and do not hire undocumented workers. Utah has plenty of
young people.... Read the Letter Tide of Illegals Likely Deseret News March 24, 2010 One effect of Mr. Obama's health care reform will be to greatly
increase illegal immigration. Employers will hire even more illegals to
work "off the books" in order to keep costs down. More citizens' jobs
will be lost as a new flood of hungry people enters our labor market. Read The Letter Repeal in-state tuitionDeseret News Mar. 6, 2010Utah Higher Education Commissioner William Sederburg (My View, March 1) reports that thousands of Utahns will not be able to attend college because of budget shortfalls and increased enrollment. Still, the Utah Legislature continues to refuse to repeal in-state tuition to foreign nationals residing illegally in the state. Read The Letter Crack down on illegalsDeseret News Feb. 27, 2010 I agree with Sen. Chris Buttars on cracking down on illegal aliens.
Congress is planning to pass a bill that would give Social Security
payments to all illegals who work in the United States, even when they
go home to Mexico. Read The Letter In-state tuitionSL Tribune Feb. 7, 2010 In "Utahns conflicted over in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants" ( Tribune , Jan. 31), Theresa Martinez attempts to negate The Tribune
poll that indicates that 47 percent of Utah voters think that
taxpayer-subsidized in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students
should be terminated. Read theLetter. Keep Illegals OutDeseret News January 20, 2010Roberto Miramontes Roman has been deported twice before, and he just
keeps coming back, like 12 million others who don't understand that
crossing the border illegally is a crime. Roman and Ruben Chavez-Reyes
are career criminals. Just look at their pictures posing with
high-caliber guns that only narco-traffickers can obtain. Read The Letter Wester's wordsSL Tribune Jan 11, 2010 Bishop Wester stated that
the Catholic Church also wants the proposed law to include language to
make health insurance available to illegal aliens who can afford to pay
for it. How many Utahns or Catholics were aware that this proposal was
part of the Catholic position Read the Letter Immigration falloutBill Barton SL Tribune January 11, 2010 It has happened once again -- an "undocumented" person taking the ultimate right from one of our citizens. Because we have been so lax in enforcing immigration laws, another of our citizens has lost her life, this time a Millard County deputy sheriff ("Suspects in deputy slaying nabbed, asleep in Beaver County shed," Tribune , Jan. 7). While hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants are naturalized as
American citizens each year by complying with the rigorous
requirements, many in Washington are considering awarding amnesty and
easy citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.Read More SB 81’s aftermathDaily Herald December 4, 2009After some years of discussion and delay, SB 81, on illegal immigration, was implemented four months ago. One of the requirements of the law was that ALL public (government) employers must use an employment verification program, such as E-Verify. Read the Letter Ignoring state lawThe 2008 Utah Legislature passed SB-81 and the 2009 Legislature allowed it to go into effect on July 1, 2009. SB-81 provisions forbid cities, counties, school district and other taxpayer funded entities from hiring "undocumented individuals." In addition, the law forbids hiring for public contracts, by their contractors and sub-contractors, those illegally in the United States. Read the letter Words are idioticOnly the Deseret News editorial staff — or a pack of village idiots — could use the words "law-abiding" and "undocumented" to describe the exact same people. Is it any wonder so many of us are leaving the mainstream media and turning to alternative outlets for our news? Korte Young Milford Deseret News Nov. 7, 2009 Only for citizensSL Tribune Nov. 30, 2009
By: Ronald Mortensen Bountiful So, because of SB81, Utah's
new anti-illegal immigration law, a donor may cancel a $180,000
scholarship endowment at the College of Eastern Utah ("Utah colleges
say SB81 difficult to implement," Tribune , Oct. 24). Apparently, the donor may not want students to undergo an immigration-status check. Read The Letter Protecting Citizens' JobsDeseret News Oct 20, 2009 I'm wondering what ever happened to Utah House Joint Resolution 25 (HJR 25)? It was supposed to protect Utah residents who have the legal right to work in this state. Many of us are still in need of something that will protect our jobs from those who are destroying the construction industry for the legal U.S. citizens here in the state. The use of illegal immigrants in the construction field by large Utah companies is destroying the possibility of having work and a decent wage in the skills we have spent years perfecting. If the government won't protect its people, then who will? We as legal citizens deserve to have our livelihoods protected the same as the auto industry. But all we ask is for there to be verification that our competitors are not unfairly underbidding by taking advantage of a person's illegal status. Jared Daley Provo Fix Immigration FirstAug 29, 2009 Deseret NewsNo way should we legislate health care until we have cleaned up the mess that immigration has left. I am not giving my elected representatives permission to use U.S. taxpayer dollars to provide health care for millions of illegals and others who are not entitled. No health-care reform until we finish the job of illegal immigration. It has not always been the problem it is now. But unless we address it and solve it, it will always be a problem. Kathleen Allred (Herriman) Health care for illegals?Deseret News August 19, 2009 So if Obama Care wins out, will it cover illegal aliens? If so, will the floodgates open more than they are now? And does that make me a racist for asking that question, even if I do not want illegals from Spain, Italy, England or Canada jumping on the bandwagon? Robert Payne Riverton LDS and immigration SL Tribune 07/23/2009 In the story about undocumented immigrants as Mormon missionaries ("Without purse, script or citizenship?" Tribune , July 11), Rebecca Van Uitert was quoted as saying, "I have learned to listen to the Spirit. When God tells me to do something, I do it." Great advice. The difficulty is deciding which thoughts come from God and which are our own desires and wishes. Not every thought that enters our minds is from God, and with a little effort we can justify almost any behavior. Because I believe God loves all of us equally, I don't believe he tells anybody (including religious leaders) from any country to sneak into the United States illegally, butting in line ahead of thousands trying honestly and legally to enter our country. Nor would God tell anyone to steal or buy a stolen Social Security number or falsely fill out an I-9 employment verification form. I believe in the Mormon Articles of Faith, including the one that says we should obey, honor and sustain the law. I believe in always trying to be "honest in our dealings with our fellow men." The Heavenly Father I have faith in encourages and endorses honesty and respect. Todd Andrizzi Sandy
Mothers at fault SL Trib 07/22/2009 The editorial "Risking children: SB81 threatens day-care homes" (Opinion, July 8) argues that Utah's new immigration law puts children of undocumented immigrants at risk. Let's at least be honest about it. The people who are putting these children at risk are the undocumented mothers who slip into this country illegally. Then when they are caught (for a variety of reasons) and sent back, they cry about being forced to leave their babies behind. If they truly cared about their children, they would take them home with them, start over and apply for visas and attempt to become American citizens instead of "undocumented" persons. David Drabner St. GeorgeSustain the lawJuly 17, 2009 SL TribuneBy Vicki Martin, Clearfield, UT In not using Utah's new immigration law, Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank is concerned for the civil rights of illegal aliens, but he ignores the dictum that to punish lesser crimes is to prevent larger crimes ("New immigration law sets dangerous precedent," Opinion, July 4). For example, if the illegal alien who killed three members of the
Gary Ceran family had been deported after an earlier driving under the
influence charge, he wouldn't have committed vehicular homicide and
Utah taxpayers wouldn't be paying $35,000 a year to incarcerate him. Why oppose SB81?DNews: Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Sutherland Institute has again weighed in against SB81, a bill that makes a tepid attempt to reduce the invasion of the United States by illegal immigrants. The Sutherland Institute seems to imply that illegals will be deported if they report a crime. But police will not, under SB81, ask about the immigration status of people who report a crime. This is a red herring. Why would a conservative think tank support policies like driver permits and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants? Could it be that the Sutherland Institute is looking out for businesses that engage in the criminal activity of hiring illegal immigrants so they don't have to pay a market wage to American workers? Jon Olson, Salt Lake City Illegal’s Health Care
DesNews July 12, 2009 My wife of 36 years passed away from breast cancer. Yes, I have good medical insurance, and yes, I was required to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. We American citizens take responsibility for our own health care while millions of illegals receive it at our expense. Now, the very politicians who have failed to secure our borders are telling us we need socialized "Obamacare." What is wrong with this picture? Darrell K. Paskett, West Valley City Burbank off BaseSL Tribune July 10, 2009Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank is off base in "New immigration law sets dangerous precedent" (Opinion, July 4). As far as comparing those who want immigration reform to the propaganda minister of Adolf Hitler, this is repulsive as well as foolish. The chief states that what happened with blacks with the Jim Crow laws can happen with immigrants, but I do not recall any illegal immigrants being hung in this state. When Chief Burbank compares today's illegal immigrants to Latter-day Saints in the 1840s being driven out of their homes and being forced to move to this valley (which at the time was Mexican territory), he again makes a foolish statement. Mormons did not steal Social Security numbers, use forged documents, and lie to employers about the fact that they were in the country illegally. They were law-abiding people. As far as the chief's statement that the republic is not based on the concept of majority rule, he needs to read Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. William Caughey, West Jordan Incendiary LanguageSalt Lake Tribune July 10, 2009Labeling those Utahns who support legislation that fortifies federal immigration law "hotheads" who indulge their "baser instincts" only infuriates those who want the state to fill a void the feds have created ("Immigration law: Not a nice reflection on Utah," Opinion, July 2). Such incendiary statements are barriers to an amicable immigration solution. The editorial calls Utah's new immigration law, SB81, "misguided." Who would you have the Legislature "pander" to, illegal residents or citizens and legal residents? Immigration and guest-worker programs exist to supplement labor shortfalls that businesses encounter. But to enhance their profits, many businesses circumvent these programs by hiring illegal laborers who choose to ignore those legal guidelines. A discussion about immigration must be frank and honest, but injecting discrimination and the emotional aspects of immigration is not warranted. The discussion does not involve ethnicity or demographics. It is about U.S. labor requirements, immigration for a sustainable population level, a society governed by laws, and restoring integrity to the workplace and our immigration system. July 1, 2009 -- "not a day to be proud of"? I respectfully take exception. SB81 was long in coming and far past due. Mark C. Ferguson, Salt Lake City By gum!SLTrib Updated: 07/09/2009 06:49:04 PM MDT After reading Stuart Reid's letter, "Last to first" (Forum, July 6), I felt many emotions -- humor, disgust and a little by-gumness. Reid is unhappy with Utah's new immigration law, SB81. He quotes scriptural texts from the "dominant religion's" Book of Mormon. He is unhappy that our elected officials did not do as he felt his good book and religion would have them do. Without getting too far into it, there are reasons we have the separation between church and state, and our state is finally making some progress. If Reid does not know these reasons, he needs to do his homework on world history. And no, this is not taught in those three hours on Sunday. It is amusing that he quotes scripture only when it helps his point. I'm sure the good book also has many quotes on what to do with trespassers and lawbreakers, but that would of course contradict Reid's point. By gum. Rick Miller, Holladay Chief has it wrongPublic Forum Letter Updated: 07/07/2009 04:55:33 PM MDT Salt Lake Tribune I don't know where to begin when discussing Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank's "New immigration law sets dangerous precedent" (Opinion, July 4) -- the hyperbole of comparing those who disagree with his opinion as being Nazis, or the misrepresentation of Senate Bill 81, Utah's new immigration law, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program. Under SB81, whether police units become 287(g) certified is voluntary, and Burbank knows this. Since this option has been available to Utah police units for years, there is no change with SB81. Those two county units in Utah that are certified to enforce immigration laws certainly do not practice Gestapo techniques. I am sure that the main problem Chief Burbank has is that under SB81 police units may not hide information or be uncooperative with ICE. I hope the people of Salt Lake City don't mind being a "sanctuary city," because, if the opinions expressed by Chief Burbank are policy, that will happen. His opinions don't improve the illegal immigration problem in Utah or Salt Lake City; they enable it. Gaylan Stewart, Spanish Fork Published: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 12:16 a.m. MDT Deseret News
In your editorial "A sad day for Utah" (July 1) on the implementation of SB81 was the inane statement: "Crossing the border illegally is a minor offense, on the order of a speeding ticket." What other country in the world would consider it so? If you think so, you haven't lived abroad as I have for many years and traveled extensively. These illegal aliens are not just "crossing the borders." They are availing themselves of all that goes with staying here. There is no doubt that this continued invasion of illegal aliens has contributed to the present situation in California and elsewhere. Of course, all should be treated humanely and with compassion. But they simply do not belong here. Jerry Molloy, Cottonwood Heights Scrutinize illegals
Deseret News July 5, 2009 The Sutherland Institute says that only 4 percent of Utah's inmates are illegals. Well, if there's the same proportion in the general population, that is 80,000 illegal alien adults among us soaking up jobs and social service resources. That is the population of Provo. I can only wonder at the real motivation of these rich "conservatives" who wish to keep so many illegals in Utah. The only thing I can guess at is they want to suppress wages, avoid paying Social Security taxes and avoid normal worker benefits and insurance while displacing legal workers who would rightly and legally expect such things. Maybe there needs to be closer federal scrutiny on what is going on. R. Scott Ormond, American Fork Immigrants avoid jailDeseret News July 3, 2009 The Sutherland Institute's study on illegal-immigrant crime, cited in the Deseret News editorial "A sad day for Utah," is very misleading. It claims that illegal immigrants make up less than 5 percent of Utah's jail and prison population and concludes that illegals do not have a disproportionate rate of crime. Judges often take a "hands off" approach to illegals who are arrested. They are frequently turned over to immigration authorities and are subsequently taken back to the border or released back onto our streets, eluding incarceration. The actual number of crimes committed is revealed by the number of arrests, and these do indeed reflect a higher crime rate among illegal aliens. Our current, broken system simply allows them to avoid jail and prison time in Utah. Laurie Lisonbee, Salem
Last to firstSL Trib Updated: 07/02/2009 04:23:59 PM MDT As a Utah resident, I am ashamed of the new immigration law, SB81. Much is made of a "dominant religion" in the Utah Legislature; this is one time when religious principles were abandoned by legislators. It's alarming that those who could have created a model for national immigration exemplifying compassion did just the opposite by demonstrating bigotry. They know better. They know these immigrants should be helped to "blossom as a rose" by being "carried in our arms and on our shoulders"; they know we are to be "nursing fathers and mothers" to them (see 1 Nephi 21:22 in the Book of Mormon). In SB81, the legislators who belong to the dominant religion rejected responsibility and failed the least of us, and in so doing have failed all of us. No wonder that in the end, "the last shall be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16). With the attitudes reflected in SB81, our legislators just guaranteed all that goes with that statement. Stuart C. Reid, Ogden (Comment: Mr Reid seems to have trouble differentiating between legal and illegal immigrant) Where's the compassion?SL Tribune 06/29/2009 As I read "Lawsuit looms over SB81," regarding groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Latino lobbyists threatening to sue over the "rights" of illegal aliens to hold taxpayer-funded jobs, it left me wondering about the rights of U.S. citizens to hold them. The common tactic of these pro-illegal immigration groups is to accuse as racist or part of a "hate group" any American who voices a concern that our immigration laws are not being enforced. This is an overused but effective means of slapping an unofficial gag order on American citizens, who are among the most compassionate and generous people. I respect our naturalized citizens who value our country enough to come here legally more than I do some other citizens who take it for granted. My beef is not with any racial or ethnic group. I don't care if you're white, Canadian, black, brown, yellow or plaid. If you're one of the 7.7 million people who are now illegally holding American jobs while 14 million unemployed Americans are desperately seeking them, that's wrong. SB81 doesn't even affect private businesses that still hire illegal aliens; only taxpayer-funded jobs. Where is the compassion for the American people? Valerie Walker, Sandy Waylaying SB81Public Forum Letter, DNews Updated: 06/25/2009 05:15:33 PM MDT It is interesting that attorneys who oppose Senate Bill 81 waited until 10 days before implementation of the immigration bill, which has already been delayed a year, to attempt further delaying action. Was the date a surprise? Even more interesting is their challenging "the legality of forcing only companies that contract with public agencies to use the federal E-Verify system while private businesses do not" ("Lawsuit looms over SB81," Tribune , June 22). There is an easy solution to that -- pass a law soon to require all businesses to use E-Verify. Now, that actually might remove some illegal immigrants from the state. Robert Wren, Heber |
