Comments for the Governor's Immigration Committee

I did get an invite to attend the committee, not as a participant, but as an observer, so I could "listen and comment at a latter date.

Here's what I might have said, if given the chance:

Illegal aliens in UTAH

This whole issue may be about people, about individuals - but it is also about principles.   It may also be about compassion - but it should be about compassion for ALL people - not just those who are here and ahve successfully evaded the law.   Equal compassion - under the established rules.

The United States is based on the rule of law.  Our governmental foundation is the Constitution.  John Adams said "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." 

We are seemingly becoming a less moral people and a wise men noted a couple centuries ago, a free country "can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury."  We are now in the process of importing people to aid in that majority leading in the wrong direction.    FAIR estimates that illegal immigration in Utah alone cast $453 million annually.
Obeying laws is part of the basis of morality.  If we continue to fail to enforce laws, if we allow everyone to pick and choose which laws to follow, then we have basically established an anarchical society. 
Amnesty, or  a reward for successfully evading or avoiding a law, can only encourage MORE evasion and corruption of our once obedient and moral society.   Rewarding illegal behavior simply encoruages more of that behavior.
We tried a blanket amnesty in 1984 - it did NOT stop illegal immigration. We have had several selective amnesties since that time.  They have simply encouraged more people to come the these United States, supposedly for freedom, in hopes of future amnesties - at the same time destroying that freedom by bits and pieces by igonring that fundamental principle of the rule of law. 
 
Federal law prohibits aiding, abetting and encouraging people to enter or reside in this country.  Too many of our policies do just that.

We talk of compassion, but seem to forget the millions who are trying to abide by our legal framework or who would love to come to this country, but can not because they are unable to simply cross the border or overstay a visa.   When we talk of compassion, we must remember those who are NOT seen, and not give priority to those who have been successful in ignoring the law.

We should "encourage" those who have been allowed to participate in the benefits of our guaranteed freedoms (and our taxpayer provided education) to return to their homeland and help their own countries develop the proper principles of liberty and freedom.

In our earlier history a more open border and simple immigration policy may have been practical.   While we have been straying from freedom principles, even in this country with our Constitutional guaranteed and recognition of individual rights, we still retain enough understanding to be that shining beacon on the hill, emanating that light of liberty to be encouraged and adopted throughout this world.  Our detour onto the welfare state path has also created an incompatibility with open borders. 

We need to work to export Liberty, not import poverty; to explain and teach Freedom to all the world. This is our destiny as a nation, not to corrupt our system with the failed ideas that government can provide all things to all people. Minimizing government may allow us to return to that openness and acceptance of those who are truly trying to WORK. 


Yes, we can adopt a civil tone and work together to restore these proper principles by following the already established and continue the quest of compassion for ALL people to attain the blessings of liberty.