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SALT LAKE CITY — A group of Latinos is calling on Utah's representatives to help shape the nationwide discussion on immigration reform.
Those groups are people of faith, urging our lawmakers in Washington to include in immigration reform a pathway to citizenship. Neither rain nor snow could keep this small group from sending out petitions to every Utah congressman and senator.
We're dealing with human beings. We're dealing with people. That's something that should never be forgotten.
–Rolando Murillo, Acela Cultural and Education Association
It's a call to take on immigration reform as a "human" issue.
"We're dealing with human beings," said Rolando Murillo with the Acela Cultural and Education Association. "We're dealing with people. That's something that should never be forgotten."
The call comes as the Senate's "gang of eight" is preparing to unveil a 1,500-page immigration reform bill. Speculation suggests it will contain stronger border enforcement measures.
Details of the proposal are expected Tuesday, but Utah Sen. Mike Lee has been outspoken about the massive size of the bill.
If what you want to do is stall our any real possibility of reforming our immigration system comprehensively, then the way to do that is to insist on one single bill doing all of it at once.
–Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah
"If what you want to do is stall our any real possibility of reforming our immigration system comprehensively, then the way to do that is to insist on one single bill doing all of it at once," he said.
Here in Utah near a series of American flags came a call for compassion from Teresa Organista, a mother.
"We are good citizens and we're doing the right things," she said.
Her son, Mario Organista, said talk of crackdowns and deportation won't play in this political environment.
"If the Hispanics see that the Republicans want to do something then they will be more likely to vote for the Republican Party," he said.
The mood for immigration reform may be ripening, especially when it comes to border security and reforming the visa and entry system. Pathway to citizenship is apparently another story.
