SALT LAKE CITY -- An historic signing took place Thursday at the State Capitol courtyard on immigration reform.

Representatives from corporations and businesses, state and city governments, community organizations and faiths stepped forward to lend support to what's titled "The Utah Compact." They've been working for several months to draft a statement to influence the tone of the discussion on the immigration issue.

Former Gov. Olene Walker has given her experience and insight to the project and is pleased with the broad-based group.

"People from all different walks of life have come together to say, 'We're concerned about this issue, we think that we need guidelines,'" Walker said. "It's a compact of guidelines and principles that we can agree on."

The five principles begin with the idea of federal solutions to the problem.

"We urge Utah's congressional delegation and others to lead efforts to strengthen federal laws and protect our international borders," said Walker. "We urge state leaders to adopt reasonable policies addressing immigration in Utah."

Bishop John Wester, leader of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and head of the Catholic Bishops of the United States Immigration Committee, has been a long-time supporter of reform.

"I'm hoping that we can speak loudly and clearly that we do not want oppressive and Draconian legislation," he said. "We do not want our state to take the place of the federal government."

Mark Willes, Deseret Media Corporation president and CEO, whose editorial on immigration has come forward as part of the Utah Compact says he is encouraged by the participation. The other four parts of the Compact include concerns for law enforcement agencies, families, the economy and our free society.

"They're going to sign it because they care of Utah and they care about people," said Willes. "They want to make sure that whatever we do reflects the complexities of the problem and the very real human dimensions to the challenges that we have."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement in support of the Utah Compact Thursday, saying, "The Church regards the declaration of the Utah Compact as a responsible approach to the urgent challenge of immigration reform. It is consistent with important principles for which we stand."

To read the Church's full statement [CLICK HERE]. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=13237741&pid=1

Utah's Attorney General Mark Shurtleff believes the compact could help defeat Rep. Stephen Sandstrom's proposed immigration bill.

"Republican legislators need to see that there is huge support in this state for doing something different than an enforcement only bill," he said.

Shurtleff says legislation that just rounds up illegal immigrants and ships them out is not going to work. He also says any immigration legislation passed in Utah should be constitutional.

Proyecto Latino de Utah director Tony Yapias was not asked to sign the compact, but he is OK with that. "I can say ‘thank you' to them for being brave enough to do this, because it is important," he said.
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