Better UTAH in collaboration with Brave New Films/Foundation (BNF) and its Facebook group, Cuentame
www.getthefactsutah.com, and other local groups is launched an effort to raise awareness and encourage discussion about the ongoing debate over immigration and to educate Utahns about the negative ramifications of an Arizona‐style enforcement law (SB1070).
This effort was launched with a press release issued by BNF. A provocative billboard on Northbound I‐15 between I‐215 and I‐80. A large rally was held at the Utah State Capitol on opening day of the 2011 legislative session.
The Effects of an Arizona‐style Enforcement Law
- Illegal immigration is a Federal matter. Whatever your position on States rights, the fact is that this is a Federal question about National borders and with a mobile population, this is a Federal problem. Let our State leaders call on the Federal Government and the Obama Administration to solve it, but let’s not pass worthless laws.
- An SB1070‐style law will set up Utah for litigation costs in constitutional challenges we can ill‐afford.
- An SB1070‐style law will set up Utah for the same boycotts that have plagued Arizona. It is estimated that the boycotts related to SB1070 have cost Arizona $140 million of lost convention business. And that doesn’t include countless individual boycotts, corporate boycotts and, importantly for Utah and Arizona, the loss of film production business.
- Our very own Chief of Police, Chris Burbank, is opposed to charging his officers with this responsibility as being counter‐productive to solving crimes.
- We don’t enforce the laws already on the books to combat illegal immigration–minimum wage, e‐verify, etc.
- Implementation of such a law is the equivalent of an unfunded mandate which could increase an already over‐crowded jail population (Utah does not have the right to deport anyone found to be here illegally) resulting only in additional unfunded costs to the State and its over‐crowded jail and prison population.
- Racial profiling, which is inevitable with an Arizona‐style enforcement law, is simply wrong and inconsistent with State, Federal and Religious values.
- An Arizona‐style enforcement law is inconsistent with the Utah Compact, endorsed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Salt Lake Chamber and dozens of other individuals and organizations in the State of Utah.
- Governor Gary Herbert called for a Utah solution, not an Arizona copycat bill.
Better UTAH Immigration editorials
HB116 repeal would be bad for Utah by board chair and founder Josh Kanter
