Utah Compact
{{short description|2010 civic declaration of immigration principles}}
The Utah Compact is a declaration of five principles whose stated purpose is to "guide Utah's immigration discussion."{{cite web|url=https://the-utah-compact.com/|title=The Utah Compact|work=The Utah Compact text}} At a ceremony held on the grounds of the Utah State Capitol on November 11, 2010, it was signed by business, law enforcement and religious leaders including the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City,{{cite news |title='Utah Compact' urges guidelines for immigration discussion |author=Carole Mikita |newspaper=KSL-TV |date=11 November 2010 |url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=13237741 |access-date=11 November 2010}} and by various other community leaders and individuals.
Principles
The Principles of the Utah Compact are
- Federal Solutions. Immigration, including border policy is a federal issue.
- Law Enforcement. Law Enforcement should have discretion. Local law enforcement should focus on criminal activity rather than violations of federal civil code.
- Families. Stating opposition to policies that unnecessarily separate families.
- Economy. Recognition of the economic role of immigrants. Advocates support for free market policies to maximize individual freedom and opportunity.
- A Free Society. Recognition that immigrants are part of society. States the need for a "humane approach to this reality, reflecting our unique culture, history and spirit of inclusion.{{cite web|url=https://the-utah-compact.com/|title=The Utah Compact|work=The Utah Compact text}}
Reception
Among supporters, the compact was complimented in a New York Times editorial{{cite news |author=NY Times editorial|title=The Utah Compact|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05sun1.html?ref=immigration | work=The New York Times|date=4 December 2010}} as coming from "people of good sense and good will". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) endorsed the Compact via a public statement, though it declined to sign the Compact itself.[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51695854-90/arizona-attorney-federal-immigration.html.csp "Immigration: Shurtleff can't find support for Compact"] (Salt Lake Tribune)[https://web.archive.org/web/20110105033008/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/31/nation/la-na-mormon-immigration-20110101/2 "Among Mormons, a deep divide on immigration"] (Los Angeles Times) The LDS Church counts about half of Utah's residents as its adherents, but the Compact is more controversial in Utah Mormon culture itself.[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51664127-78/bills-church-illegal-immigration.html.csp "LDS panned on immigration"] (Salt Lake Tribune){{citation|work = New York Times|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/us/politics/romney-immigration-position-at-odds-with-mormon-church.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha24|title = Romney's Tough Immigration View Is at Odds With His Church|first = Laurie|last = Goodstein|date = February 2, 2012}}
Criticism
The Utah Compact is alleged by the Minuteman Project, conservative commentator Bob Lonsberry, and former Arizona State Senator Karen Johnson to contain deliberately misleading language intended to subtly promote tolerance of illegal immigration, opposition to enforcement of immigration law, and amnesty for illegal aliens.{{cite news |title=Utah Minuteman Project responds to 'Utah Compact'|url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=13287978&pid=1 }}{{cite web |author=Bob Lonsberry |author-link=Bob Lonsberry |title=Utah Compact is Offensive, Arrogant and Dishonest|url=http://lonsberry.com/writings.cfm?story=3003&go=4 |date=15 November 2010 }}[http://www.newswithviews.com/Johnson/karenA.htm series of eight articles by Karen Johnson on the Utah Compact]
See also
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.utahcompact.com/ Official website]
- Peggy Fletcher Stack, [http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51664127-78/church-immigration-lds-illegal.html.csp "LDS Panned on Immigration,"] Salt Lake Tribune, April 20, 2011
- Stewart J Lawrence, [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/mar/21/christianity-religion "The Latter Day Saints come marching in: Immigration reform has eluded the Obama administration. But a Mormon-backed Republican initiative in Utah may hold the key,"] The Guardian, March 21, 2010
{{Immigration to the United States}}
Category:2010 in American politics