Gary Herbert on Immigration

Review Syrian refugee security, but keep accepting them

Create a guest worker program for some illegal immigrants

Deseret News summary:The bill allows illegal immigrants in the state prior to May 11, 2011 to be eligible for the guest worker permit, which Rep. Dave Clark said not just opens the door to illegal immigrants but opens the barn door.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 21-7-1 on Mar/4/11; Passed House 41-32-2 on Mar/4/11; Signed by Governor Herbert on Mar/15/11

Find solutions to tough issues where feds abdicated

Failure to secure borders emblematic of misplaced priorities

1. There must be respect for the law.
2. The federal government has a responsibility to secure our borders, to enforce immigration laws, and to draft meaningful immigration policy.
3. There must be greater accountability from the private sector.
4. The Utah solutions should recognize and respect the humanity of all people. Immigration reform efforts must be fair, colorblind and race-neutral.
5. We must provide appropriate tools for law enforcement.
6. We must relieve the burden on taxpayers. There are significant societal costs associated with illegal immigration that simply must be addressed.

Protect DREAMers instead of deporting them.

Nearly 800,000 young people eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA)--known as "Dreamers"--played no role in the decision to come here and they have known no other home but the United States.

Already, more than 12,000 Dreamers have lost their protective status and are susceptible to deportation. This is not a theoretical peril, but in fact an immediate and urgent one, because more than 100 young people in our cities and towns are losing their protective status every day. Those numbers will accelerate dramatically without a legislative fix.

We stand with these young American immigrants not only because it is good for our communities and a strong American 21st century economy, but also because it is the right thing for our nation to do. DACA recipients have subjected themselves to extensive background and security checks in order to work and attend college. They are studying at our universities. They are working to support themselves and their families, paying taxes and contributing to their communities in a myriad of ways. In the absence of congressional action providing for a permanent resolution, the termination of DACA puts these young people and their families in peril, and will destabilize our schools, workplaces and communities.

We recognize the complexities and challenges created by this issue, but swift, successful action is needed, action that can build momentum to reassure policymakers that progress on other immigration challenges is possible as well. As a bipartisan coalition of governors, we stand ready to help.