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When it comes to reforming the nation's immigration laws, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch sits in a pivotal seat. He's considered a critical swing vote as the Senate Judiciary Committee during the next few weeks tries to advance a plan for resolving this national crisis.
KSL encourages the senator to take a realistic, common sense approach.
The key issue when it comes to immigration reform is what to do with the eleven million illegals already in the United States. They play a vital role in the nation's economy and to summarily "send them back" would wreak economic havoc.
Yet, as the Western Governor's Association said last week in their reasoned statement, "granting blanket amnesty to all undocumented persons" isn't the way to go. "Appropriate sanctions should be part of any solution."
Finding that balance in the form of a viable temporary guest worker program seems essential to reaching accord. Surely a way can be found to help the nation's businesses meet their critical labor force needs without needlessly criminalizing the millions of men and women who genuinely are seeking better lives.
In KSL's view, Senator Hatch is in a key position to help find that balance. We urge him to let common sense more than the emotional arguments of anti-immigration hardliners influence his decision.
