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Carole Mikita reporting A group of civic, business and religious leaders called Alliance for Unity has taken a strong stand against a House bill about immigration. That bill would repeal the current law that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at Utah's colleges and universities.
The Alliance for Unity formed during the Main Street Plaza controversy before 2002. In this case, the group says it is not taking a stand on the broader issue of immigration, but last year when this bill was presented, the alliance was against it. Now this year again it has taken a stand against it, specifically because the members believe in affordable education for everyone.
"We were concerned about not wanting to take away the American dream from these kids; and these kids had come to America as little youngsters, as 2- or 3-year-olds, many of them, and how can you blame the sins, if there be sins, of their parents on their shoulders?" asked Dr. Alexander Morrison, with the Alliance for Unity.
Morrison represents a diverse group of community leaders unified on what it considers moral issues. "In our view, making a college education unaffordable to students simply discourages them and will result in their making less than the best use of their intelligence and talents," the group says.
This year's legislature is once again considering a repeal of current laws permitting some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. The bill's sponsor says it's simply against the law. "If they do get an education and get a job, they're gonna have to forge documents. Now it's a felony and it puts them in a worse case than they are, and I'm saying we can't afford to put these kids in that kind of a situation," Rep. Glenn Donnelson said.
At Westminster College Wednesday evening, Elder Marlin K. Jensen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said the legislature should "carefully study" the immigration bills. He said he was sent to the meeting by the Church's First Presidency.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports Elder Jensen believes immigration is not strictly a political issue but a moral and ethical one "with decisions hanging in the balance that have such significant consequences, I believe a more thoughtful... not to mention humane, approach is warranted."
A group from California, traveling through several Western states, is also urging compassion on immigration issues, including education. "It was their parents' decision that brought them here, and if there's one thing that's important for Utah and the rest of the country, is that these kids become well-educated, regardless of where they're from," said Enrique Morones, founder of Border Angels.
The Alliance for Unity and Rep. Donnelson agree that Congress should be leading the way with immigration legislation that will help lawmakers in states like Utah know how to deal with this overwhelming issue.
