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Saturday, August 19, 2006

Demo to lead a pro-Bush Utah rally on immigration

By Deborah Bulkeley
Deseret Morning News

President Bush's upcoming visit to Salt Lake City to address the American Legion Convention is sparking controversy, largely surrounding the war in Iraq, and generating rallies in support of opposing viewpoints.

But for at least one local Latino community activist, the most critical of President Bush's policy proposals is his call for comprehensive immigration reform.

The issue is so important that it cuts across party lines for Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah and chairman of the Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucus.

That's why Yapias is planning a rally in support of the president on immigration matters, to coincide with the president's visit later this month.

And like the organizers of the convention, Yapias is balking at extending a speaking invitation to Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. Yapias expressed some concern about inviting Anderson, a vocal Bush critic, largely because he wanted to ensure the message remains focused on immigration reform.

However, Yapias said details of the rally, including invited speakers, will be decided at a meeting today.

"We're going to focus on what worries us most, and that's immigration," Yapias said. "The president supports a guest worker program. We're going to encourage him to work with Congress to get a bill passed."

The federal immigration debate is at a standstill for now. The House passed a measure focusing on tougher enforcement of immigration laws. The Senate passed a comprehensive bill that would legalize many of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. The two houses of Congress have yet to start talks on a compromise.

Yapias said he's applied for a permit to rally at Liberty Park on Aug. 30 to support the president in his call for a new guest worker program, along with bolstered border security.

Another pro-Bush rally is planned by Salt Lake County Republicans, and a non-political "support our troops" rally is set on the same day. Meanwhile, Anderson will be speaking at a protest of Bush's policies, along with anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan.

Michael Clara, vice chairman of the Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly, said if the Proyecto Latino rally remains focused on support for Bush, it could help garner support for comprehensive immigration reform, especially since it is organized by a Democratic official.

"I think it's extremely helpful," Clara said. "It underscores that President Bush is on the right path."

However, Archie Archuleta, immediate past chairman of the Salt Lake County and Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucuses, said Democrats are far from united behind Yapias' planned rally.

Archuleta said he'll be at the protest of the president's policies. He said Bush started in the right direction on immigration but "sold out" by agreeing with immigration hardliners.

"He opted for a militarized zone on the border, in building our own Berlin Wall," Archuleta said. "Number two, he has not been very persuasive with Congress to look at the whole issue of guest workers. We don't think he's very serious."

Yapias acknowledged that not everyone in the Democratic Party agrees with him but said he believes there's "wide support" among Democrats in favor of comprehensive reform, such as the proposals the Senate passed and the president supports.

"We want to let the president know that here in Utah, people are concerned about this issue and want to do something about it," he said.

Terry Schow, vice president of the American Legion Convention Corp., said "we just happen to be the convenient target" for protesters. The convention is expected to bring about $600,000 in tax revenue, and he's focused on making sure the convention attendees feel welcome.

"That's our only concern," he said. "We don't want to create a negative impression."

Yapias said he's already extended an invitation to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who along with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, put together a resolution on immigration, calling for bolstered border security and a guest worker program, which was adopted earlier this year by the Western Governors Association. The governor's office could not be reached for immediate comment.

In the past, Anderson was among elected officials who has shown support for the immigrant community at rallies calling for comprehensive immigration reform, along with Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon.

A message left for Anderson was not returned. The mayor and his spokesman, Patrick Thronson, have declined to comment to the Deseret Morning News for the past 56 days.

The White House won't confirm Bush's trip to Utah and does not release travel schedules until a week beforehand, according to the press office.

In addition to addressing the American Legion, the president is expected to pay a courtesy visit to the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also is scheduled to speak at a $500-per-plate fund-raiser for Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.


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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com