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Utah lawmakers did the correct and compassionate thing recently when they rejected an attempt to repeal a policy that allows qualifying children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at the state's colleges and universities.
Score a victory for common sense.
Now let's hope another needless and punitive anti-immigration related measure meets a similar fate.
House Bill 105 would set the wheels in motion for turning local police officers into federal immigration agents. Ultimately, it would authorize them to "enforce federal immigration law."
KSL agrees with the view of key law enforcement officials throughout Utah when they say passage of the law would adversely impact overall public safety. In the words of Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank, it "would profoundly undermine the relationship of trust and collaboration necessary for effective police work."
In short, what illegal immigrant would be willing to report a crime, provide vital information or testify as a witness under the threat of instant arrest for being in the country illegally?
Rather than pass such a counter-productive law, Utah legislators would do better by persuading their national colleagues to do their duty and actually enact meaningful immigration reform, including a viable guest worker program. Only then can this nation begin to get a handle on the enormous problem of illegal immigration.
