DESERET MORNING NEWS (Salt Lake City) January 25, 2007 Utahns hopeful for immigration reform Citizens on both sides of the debate look for a resolution By Deborah Bulkeley President Bush's renewed call for a new guest worker program, along with better border enforcement, has at least some Utahns hopeful that a viable immigration reform package could be on the horizon.
The president called for adding new technology to border security and doubling the Border Patrol. He also called for a guest worker program to make it easier for immigrants to work legally, along with resolving the status of illegal immigrants. "without animosity and without amnesty." Given that the president is a Republican and the Democrats control Congress, any comprehensive reform will likely be "somewhat simple and focused on a few big issues," said Kirk Jowers, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics. "I think his immigration proposal is probably the one that has the highest likelihood of actually getting support in Congress and maybe seeing action," Jowers said. Jowers isn't the only one in Utah optimistic about reform. Some of those eyeing a slate of bills targeting illegal immigration hope that state lawmakers will give the federal government a chance at reform. Among those is Tony Yapias, chairman of the Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucus, who said he's more optimistic for reform this year than in the past. "Over the last few years, it has fallen to deaf ears," Yapias said. "This time I think everybody is talking about it. ... This is a good opportunity." Also optimistic is Rep. Karen Morgan, D-Cottonwood Heights, who is sponsoring a measure seeking federal compensation for the costs of illegal immigration and another creating a minimum $50,000 civil penalty for document fraud. "I was very pleased to hear him address the issue of illegal immigration," Morgan said. "It's so important, particularly to the Western states." Last year, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., along with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, led a call by the Western Governors Association for comprehensive reform that would include enforcement and a guest worker program. "The governor is very pleased that President Bush is committed to addressing the illegal immigration issue," Huntsman's spokesman, Mike Mower, said. "We think there is a renewed commitment in Washington after the November election to finally deal with the illegal immigration issue." But Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, isn't holding his breath. The debate reached a stalemate last year when a Senate bill calling for legalization of many of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants was never resolved with a get-tough House measure. "I hold out little hope," Bramble said. "Congress will do that which Congress does best, which is nothing." Phyllis Sears, head of the Citizens Council on Illegal Immigration, worries that potential reform skips border security, which she sees as needed before other reform measures could work. "Until you get control of the border you can't do anything else. If you give amnesty, and 20 million more pour in, no thanks," she said. And Alex Segura, head of the Utah Minuteman Project, questioned how the president could address the status of illegal immigrants without an amnesty. The president's stand against amnesty was encouraging to Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, who sponsors a bill to repeal a law allowing some undocumented students pay in-state tuition and other measures. "At least it's encouraging to me that he's going to look at it," Donnelson said. Members of Utah's congressional delegation who could be reached for comment expressed optimism that this could be the year for immigration reform. "I welcome this call for comprehensive immigration reform, including a temporary worker program," Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, said in a statement. "I voted for the reform bill last year when it passed the Senate and look forward to a renewed effort to address it this Congress." U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, who is co-sponsor of an agricultural jobs bill, predicted that Bush would "work with the Democratic Congress on a lot of things and we'll see some pressure we might not have seen in the past on this issue, and interest in the House and Senate." Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who voted against last year's Senate measure, said in a statement that "it's clear we need to address this" through measures such as better tracking of legal immigrants and a reliable system for employers to check the legal status of those they hire. "But while we are a nation of immigrants, we should not ignore the rule of law," Hatch said. "Amnesty is not an option."
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