Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Plans to copy an Arizona immigration law have more people in Utah nervous, including the head of the Utah Catholic Diocese.
Bishop John C. Wester says he is worried about racial profiling in Arizona, now that law enforcement is required to check for citizenship.
"It does smack of those with a different color skin, those with an accent; those are going to be the ones who are going to be detained," Bishop Wester says.
He says illegal immigrants are human beings that are trying to make a living and take care of their families.
"We believe they have a God-given right to do this, and they frankly have a God-given right to stay in their own homes," Bishop Wester says. "Sadly, in this day and age, there are many who cannot do that."
Bishop Wester spoke on KSL's Doug Wright Show Wednesday morning, where he was also asked about an Iowa candidate's proposal to put microchips in illegal immigrants.
"At the end of the day, this is a moral question," Bishop Wester says.
The bishop says Arizona's new law, or plans for a fence along the border, to not solve the problem. He says comprehensive immigration reform is needed, and it should include the government allowing more temporary work visas.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
