As we count down the days till President-elect Donald Trump takes office, efforts are already underway to enact policies on Day 1. We discuss the implications for Utah and how the weighty topic of immigration might impact the upcoming session.

America First Legal, run by Stephen Miller, a Trump adviser, sent 250 jurisdictions across the U.S. letters, warning them against interference of Trump’s deportation policies. How will Utah respond?

Cowley: After an electoral landslide nationwide, Trump and fellow Republicans feel the wind at their backs to implement the policies they campaigned on, including radical changes to immigration.

Historically, Utah has had a nuanced approach to immigration policies. It was Utah’s own Orrin Hatch who sponsored the DREAM Act. Utahns support a compassionate approach — enforcing the rule of law while preserving families and acknowledging immigrants’ contributions to our economy and communities. It is incumbent upon Utah’s federal delegation to, at long last, pass meaningful immigration reform while honoring this ethos.

Pignanelli: “Voters are tired of endless talk without real progress. The immediate agenda is clear: secure the border, deport criminals, and sort out the rest from there.” — Brett Buerck, CEO Majority Strategies

Americans are proud descendants of those who immigrated (voluntarily or involuntarily) and created this incredible country. (Even indigenous peoples’ ancestors were travelers.) This shared heritage yields interesting results in various surveys.

Pew Research reveals 87% of Americans believe highly skilled immigrant workers should be given priority to stay in the United States. Almost 80% support legal migrants who can fill the labor shortage. Yet, the National Immigration Forum and the Bullfinch Group demonstrate over two-thirds of Americans — of all political stripes — want violent criminals and those with deportation orders to be immediately expelled.

A recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll documents that 86% of Utahns expect immigrants lacking permanent legal status who committed a crime to be deported. This includes an overwhelming majority of Hispanic, Democrat and Kamala Harris voters.

Whether through executive order or congressional action (which stalled for too long), bipartisan support exists to remove the dangerous visitors. How federal and state officials conduct this endeavor will demonstrate their ability to succeed with a clear mandate.

In 2010, Utah elected officials and business and religious leaders came together to support the Utah Compact, a set of five principles surrounding immigration. What is in the Utah Compact, and does it conflict with Trump’s policies?

Cowley: A key tenet of the compact is not separating families. If criminal immigrants have families in the Beehive State, their deportation may run afoul of this value.

The Utah economy benefits from immigrants in the workforce, from agriculture to manufacturing to high-skilled tech jobs. Utah continually wins awards as the best state for business, in part because of the contributions from immigrants. If Trump policies cause a chilling effect on these laborers coming to Utah, state revenues will sink, even more than they are this year. This can only be counteracted by Congress making legal immigration more attainable.

At the center of the compact’s guiding principles are both an acknowledgement of the rule of law and call for compassion. These are not diametric principles. Focusing on arresting criminals, rather than engaging in a wholesale roundup of all immigrants living in the country illegally, is an act of compassion toward those abiding by our laws and contributing to society.

Remember, Utah Republicans have not shown the same outpouring of support for Trump as many other red states — an important fact for the Utah Legislature and federal delegation to be mindful of.

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Could the Utah Compact make a difference for America’s immigration standoff?

Pignanelli: I enjoy multiple reasons to be proud of my state and our people. High on that list is the Utah Compact. The National Immigration Forum survey asked 1,200 adults: “In accordance with American values, family unity, respect for human dignity, and protection for the persecuted must remain key priorities as the government increases border security and immigration enforcement.” Seventy-five percent of Americans, including Republicans, agreed. The compact encompasses these elements. Utah is ahead of the curve to guide officials in developing correct immigration policies.

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The Utah House of Representatives outlined their framework for addressing immigration in a press conference Monday. What can we expect to see this session on immigration?

Cowley: The deficient federal response to curtail the influx of illegal immigration on our southern border has left Utah leaders to deal with the consequences. On Monday, the Legislature unveiled their plans to crack down on criminal behavior of immigrants without legal status. They will address the surge of criminal activities including fentanyl trafficking, accidents from unlicensed drivers, squatters and property damage, gang violence preying on youth and more. The net result, intentional or not, will be increasing the pool of convicted criminals that may get deported under the Trump regime.

From an operational perspective, once these criminals are incarcerated in Utah jails and prisons, it will require coordination with state agencies to release them to ICE, should it come to that.

Pignanelli: This press conference, conducted by House leadership, may have been the most efficient media event in history. Lawmakers and other officials crisply identified legislation and policies that will be pursued in the upcoming session to foster changes in immigration, especially targeting criminals. Members of Congress are advised to watch how such communications should be conducted.

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Utah Republican lawmakers announce public safety crackdown on migrants in state illegally
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