Acting at the request of the White House, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Summit County Councilman David Ure moderated a roundtable discussion on immigration reform today. The more than a dozen panelists were from religious, law enforcement, business and community activist groups. They focused on community, the economy and the immigrant people. Mayor Becker says increased trust come from these efforts but the economic benefits will be far greater.
“With immigration reform we will get the full benefits of members of our communities and helping them and having us realize benefits from their full participation in our communities and in societies,” says Becker.
Councilman David Ure berated Congress for trying to create piece-meal legislation so they can say they voted against immigration reform.
”I think we’ve learned in some of the healthcare issues that have taken place in the last three years that sometimes they contradict each other two or three times trying to accomplish the same thing," Ure says. And it has to be comprehensive so we know that when we’re talking about the economy how it’s affecting education over here or visa-versa.”
Panel member Yolanda Francisco-Nez is the coordinator of the Mayor’s Office of Diversity and Rights. She says the ideas presented are actionable because of the outreach from the Whitehouse.
”There will be a short report that goes back to the White House indicating the process that we…that occurred here in Salt Lake City and it’ll have a list of priorities and recommendations, moving forward for the White House,” Francisco-Nez says.
Mayor Becker says these are ideas for change to share as federal representatives begin their work. He says the city plans to be ready if and when the changes come.