The current immigration system is not just broken; it is upside down and backward.
On one hand, we lack a secure border that prevents bad actors from entering. On the other hand, we have an ineffective legal immigration system that fails to admit enough individuals eager to work hard, support the economy and contribute to the community. Decades of dysfunction at the national level have resulted in a stalemate that seems to circle endlessly without resolution. Rarely has a policy solution been so obvious and the political wherewithal so low. We need our federal government to secure the nation’s border and create more economically sustainable pathways for legal immigration.
The first step must be securing the border. This should be a bipartisan issue, as public safety and the integrity of our nation should not be a point of division. Unfortunately, immigration is too often used by both sides as a political football with which to score partisan points rather than implement policy solutions. With lives and livelihoods on the line, this needs to stop.
Border security alone is not enough. Economic growth relies on bringing skilled immigrants into the workforce. With the U.S. birth rate in decline in every state, immigrants help fill essential roles in a variety of industries, helping to keep our economy competitive on a global scale. But we must have an economy built on legal immigration, as an economy sustained on undocumented immigration is unstable and morally untenable.
With immigration at the forefront of this year’s elections, and with post-election talk about deportations on one side and sanctuary cities on the other, it is worth revisiting the Utah Compact on Immigration — a set of guiding principles rooted in Utah values.
Developed over a decade ago, through thoughtful collaboration and support from elected officials, community leaders, business associations, law enforcement officers and members of Utah’s religious community, the Utah Compact offers a balanced approach to a divisive issue. Its principles emphasize federal solutions, a focus on addressing criminal activity, family unity, economic contributions and a humane approach to reform.
The principles of the Utah Compact remain as relevant today as when they were first adopted. That is the point of values, that we stay disciplined to them regardless of changing winds or situational politics. They call for solutions that are practical and compassionate. For example, governors across the United States, including Utah, have committed to using law enforcement to identify and deport violent criminals who are here illegally. The Utah Compact supports this common sense solution while rejecting false moral equivalency between violent criminals and those who were brought to this country as children and are otherwise contributing members of society.
Once we secure the border and stop the flow of illegal immigration, we can build consensus around a pathway to legal status for those law abiding, community-contributing, yet undocumented immigrants. I hope our federal elected officials adopt a common sense and humane approach to a solution that satisfies the economic and moral imperatives the Utah Compact calls for. Such a solution would reflect the values of fairness and accountability while addressing a pressing reality.
As Utahns, let us champion a balanced and values-driven framework that addresses both border security and legal immigration reform. Together, we can move past the gridlock and ensure a brighter, stronger future for all.