Real compassion, not the parsed version some have searched for in recent weeks, needed a face and a voice in the current legislative debate over illegal immigration. Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided that in an eloquent way this week as he spoke at an Interfaith Dialogue on Immigration at Westminster College.
The church (which owns this newspaper), has not taken an official stand on any specific immigration legislation under consideration during this session, but Elder Jensen's message was clear. Immigration is a moral issue. "I believe a more thoughtful and factual, not to mention humane, approach is warranted and urge those responsible for enactment of Utah's immigration policy to measure twice before they cut." It was a message the First Presidency assigned him to deliver.
Church leaders already had privately urged lawmakers to treat this issue with compassion. Now, Elder Jensen has publicly reinforced that in a way that suggests lawmakers haven't gotten the message. We hope they were listening.
Fortunately, Senate leaders are more likely to show real compassion than what has been evidenced by their House colleagues. In a meeting with us last month, Senate leaders said they see no reason to repeal driving privilege cards or in-state tuition rates for children of illegal immigrants who have spent at least three years in high school and performed well enough to be admitted to a state college or university. Both would be repealed by bills that passed the House.
The church's humanitarian approach to immigration dovetails nicely with the secular, pragmatic concerns of the business community. The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce is concerned that harsh anti-immigration measures would harm the economy.
The Senate may impanel a coalition of business leaders and activists to study more human approaches to the issue, an idea that makes a good deal of sense.
After a recent raid on a Lindon plant resulted in the arrests of 57 undocumented workers, many criticized the media for focusing on the human suffering of those involved. But laws do not merely sit on bookshelves. They govern people and cannot be separated from their human impacts.
All people have flesh and blood, families, dreams and desires. Regardless of color or status, they deserve compassion and respect. Elder Jensen invited all to "meet an undocumented person. Come to know their family." His message was timely and important.