The stonewalling on immigration exemplifies the political dysfunction and grandstanding in Washington that is tying our government up in knots. In June 2013, the U.S. Senate passed SB 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, a comprehensive bill reforming the immigration system. The bill passed 68 to 32 with Sen. Orrin Hatch supporting it and Sen. Mike Lee opposed. While the bill has good and bad points (it’s a compromise!), it is a step in the right direction. But, while the Senate acted, the House dithered. I repeat: the House dithered.
The Utah Compact, signed in November 2010, established Utah as an immigration leader and should serve as a national model. Most undocumented workers are hard workers who contribute to our economy. They are here for the most noble of reasons: to seek a better quality of life for their families. Their path to residence and citizenship should be simple, straightforward and direct.