Thread: Utahns to guv: Tackle immigration on trip

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2851040

Utahns to guv: Tackle immigration on trip
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune

Topics: illegal immigration, Americans, Republican, Democrat, laws, crimes, campaigns

As Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. heads south of the border this week to talk to Mexican leaders about business and tourism, Utahns say he should not ignore a big state issue - immigration.

Many residents - from undocumented Mexicans living here to folks who want them out - say they hope Huntsman doesn't shy away from talking about the fast-growing Latino population here. They also want to see him figure out ways the state and Mexico can work together toward immigration reform.

"It doesn't make sense that he goes to Mexico and doesn't talk about immigration," says Jose, a 47-year-old woodcarver who moved from Mexico to Salt Lake City seven years ago. "There are alot of people here who don't have anything, don't have papers."

Jose, who didn't want his last name used because he's an undocumented resident, hopes state and Mexican leaders talk about the importance of Utah issuing state identification cards and driver licenses for him and others in his position. A recent state law bans them from getting state IDs and replaces licenses with driving privilege cards.

Jose, who's in the process of getting U.S. residency papers, suggests that leaders come up with a plan to give undocumented workers a work permit to legally live and work in the United States.

"I wish they could reach some sort of agreement to make life better for Latinos here," he says in Spanish.

There are more than 200,000 Mexicans in Utah, says Salvador Jiménez Mu–oz, consul General of Mexico for the state. But he declined to say how many of them are here without U.S. residency papers.

Huntsman plans to talk about immigration, but it is unclear with whom or in what meetings, a Huntsman spokeswoman said.

Julio, another undocumented worker who didn't want his last name printed, suggests a work permit would benefit both countries. Permits might improve worker benefits and rights and keep people from sneaking across the border.

Julio, a 48-year-old butcher, moved alone from Mexico to Salt Lake City two years ago. He misses his family but says sometimes you have to go through "pain to better yourself." Still, Julio says it's going to be tough for the United States to keep undocumented immigrants from coming.

"Here, there is more work, and the economy in Mexico is bad," he says in Spanish. "We come here . . . so we can dream a little bit more."
Phyllis Sears, who lives in the St. George area, says Huntsman needs to discuss the state's cost of "illegal aliens" - from education to prisons. Sears, a retired engineer, teacher and business owner, is chairwoman of the Citizens Council on Illegal Immigration, an anti-undocumented immigrants group.

She hopes Huntsman talks to Mexican leaders about how to improve their country by creating jobs and educational opportunities for Mexicans, so that they don't flee to the United States.

"It's an illegal invasion that is destroying our country little by little," Sears says.

If Huntsman represents his constituents, immigration will be his main topic during the trip, said Alex Segura, who started the Utah Minuteman Project, an anti-illegal immigration group.

"It's an issue that must be discussed," says Segura, a Holladay resident.

"They [government leaders] only want to discuss things that benefit them."

Huntsman should at least try to talk to Mexican leaders about compensation for Utah services used by Mexicans living here, Segura says, pointing to education and health care.

jsanchez@sltrib.com

http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_2851041Related Articles
# Huntsman aims to bring Utah, Mexico a bit closer[/url]

Notice how the American voices are placed in the back of the article?

This one has been added to the alipac homepage.

http://www.alipac.us/article-529-thread-1-0.html

W

Yes I noticed it. I wonder why????{/sarcasim]