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SALT LAKE CITY -- A coalition is holding back no punches on their view of Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's handling of illegal immigration in Utah.
The claims in the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration's press release are strong: "Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff may be failing in his duties to his office" by "refusing to enforce existing immigration laws." [CLICK HERE to read the coalition's press release]
"We simply want to enforce the rule of law; and a nation that cannot do that, a state that cannot do that, is in big trouble." Cheryl Eagar, Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration
The group is opposed to Shurtleff's idea of a guest worker program, according to former U.S. Senate candidate Cherilyn Eagar. Instead, they'd like to see him support Arizona in defending its law.
"The attorney general has been very forthright and proactive on stepping up to the plate on gun rights and defending our state against Obamacare. We'd like to see him do the same thing here, and we're not seeing that," Eagar said.
In addition to Eager, the coalition is comprised of several familiar names in the illegal immigration debate, such as Ronald Mortensen, Robert Wren, Jim Flohr, Eli Cawley and Gail Ruzicka.
"We simply want to enforce the rule of law; and a nation that cannot do that, a state that cannot do that, is in big trouble," Eagar said.
Related:
Utah lawmaker will move forward with immigration bill
A Utah lawmaker is committed to moving forward with a bill modeled after Arizona's immigration law, but he may make a couple changes depending on the outcome of the federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.The group's press release also touches on Shurtleff's comments that he would like to see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints come out against the Arizona law.
So far, the Church has remained neutral, although leaders have stressed compassion and careful reflection on the subject of immigration. Church leaders reiterated that position Wednesday in response to the coalition's statement.
According to Shurtleff's office, the coalition is failing to recognize that while crimes committed by illegal immigrants fall in the state's jurisdiction, enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government.
A spokesman for the attorney general's office said in a statement: "Utah is making a significant difference targeting illegal aliens violating state laws and we must continue to insist that the federal government to do its job of securing the border."
The statement also said the coalition is misrepresenting Shurtleff's position. [CLICK HERE to read the entire statement from the attorney general's office]
Both sides in this debate say they're willing to work together on this issue.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
