On Nov. 11, 2010, Utah business, law enforcement and religious leaders gathered on the grounds of the Utah State Capitol with other officials to sign the Utah Compact, a declaration of five principles of which the stated purpose was to “guide the state’s immigration discussion.” Last week a group of business leaders met at the Salt Lake Chamber to reaffirm their commitment to that declaration.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}
“The Utah Compact seeks to recognize and support the positive impact that immigrants bring to Utah’s economy as workers, business owners, taxpayers and consumers,” the chamber said in a release. According the chamber, more than 120 prominent Utahns, including business, civic, faith and city leaders from across the state, have signed on to reaffirm their support of the Utah Compact.
The principles of the Utah Compact as outlined in 2010 are:
1. Federal solutions. Immigration, including border policy ,is a federal issue.
2. Law enforcement. Law enforcement should have discretion. Local law enforcement should focus on criminal activity rather than violations of federal civil code.
3. Families. Opposition to policies that unnecessarily separate families.
4. Economy. Recognition of the economic role of immigrants. Advocates support for free market policies to maximize individual freedom and opportunity.
5. A Free Society. Recognition that immigrants are part of society. States the need for a “humane approach to this reality, reflecting our unique culture, history and spirit of inclusion.”
“Immigration reform is a federal issue, but the lack of smart policy that works for business is felt at the local level,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “As Utah’s business leader, the Salt Lake Chamber is proud of the role we have played in elevating the level of debate on this important issue and we stand with our partners across Utah to encourage elected officials to champion policies that recognize the role immigrants play in our society. Immigration policy based on the principles of the Utah Compact will strengthen families, communities and greatly benefit our economy.”
The signing event comes on the heels of the release of new data from New American Economy that shows how much immigrant contributions add to Utah’s economy. According to NAE’s analysis, in 2017, immigrants in Utah paid $534.6 million in state and local taxes and held $5.3 billion in spending power.
“Respect for the rule of law is fundamental for a society, but as law enforcement officers, our limited resources should be focused on criminal activities, not civil violations of federal code,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “We serve the public, regardless of status. We need immigration reform that recognizes that many immigrants in Utah are law-abiding, valuable contributors to our community.”
“Our state’s economy faces global challenges we must meet with effective immigration policy that balances security with the flow of people and goods across borders,” said Miles Hansen, president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah. “Smart immigration policy not only recognizes that Utah is best served by a free-market philosophy that maximizes individual opportunity, it also helps us compete in the global marketplace by attracting the best talent and most industrious workers to our state.”{/mprestriction}
