Utah's Republican-majority Gov. Spencer Cox has said he will help the Trump administration deport criminal immigrants (not illegal economic immigrants), but several Latino activist groups remain fiercely opposed to the governor's plan. I'm blaming.
Mr. Cox issued a lengthy statement. statement On Tuesday, he detailed efforts the administration is preparing to work with President Trump's plan to deport millions of illegal immigrants.
The Republican governor told voters that Utah is committed to “a joint effort by the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Department of Corrections to strengthen collaboration with federal, state, and local partners” to “identify, incarcerate, and deport.” He stated that he would support the incoming Trump administration through these efforts. He is an illegal immigrant who committed a crime. ”
“The safety of Utahns is my top priority when it comes to immigration policy,” the governor said in a statement.
He continued:
Utah continues to welcome refugees and immigrants who enter our country legally and continues to push for reforms to our asylum process and visa expansion to support our workforce needs. However, we have zero tolerance for those who present a threat to public safety while in the country illegally. Federal immigration authorities failed in their duties to the American people, leaving state and local governments to manage the aftermath of that failure on their own. I am grateful that we have a government that seriously addresses these issues.
Cox's statement added that the costs of federal border security failures have increased exponentially during the Biden administration, costing the state $16 million a year from immigrants in state prisons alone. Ta.
Costs are high in other areas as well. Drug trafficking is on the rise, drug-related crimes are on the rise, and drug overdoses are skyrocketing. Numbers tracking overdose deaths reported in September by the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner show that from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, the number of drug overdose deaths will increase from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. It was found that there was an increase of 16.7% from March 1st to March 2023. , according to Deseret news.
Like most other states, Utah law enforcement officials have reported increased activity by the dangerous Venezuelan street gang Torren de Aragua, and Joe Biden's Its presence is growing thanks to lax immigration policies.
Despite all this, Latino activist groups in the Beehive State are slamming Cox's plan to help the Trump administration deport millions of illegal aliens.
Left-wing non-profit organization Comunidades Unidas [United Communities]first, put it out immediately statement They lambasted Cox, saying they were “deeply disappointed and outraged” by the governor's plan.
“We believe in the liberation of all immigrants and therefore do not criminalize members of our community,” Comunidades Unidas said. “We will not trade the freedom of some members of our community for the freedom of others.”
The NGO also slammed Cox, saying his comments “perpetuate harmful stereotypes that undermine trust between our communities and local leaders.”
“Governor Cox's comments are unacceptable and inhumane, as they threaten to further marginalize and dehumanize the broader immigrant community,” the group continued.
“For too long, migrants have been used as scapegoats for political gain. This approach sows fear and division rather than promoting security and unity,” the group said.
“We will continue to protect and fight for the human rights of our communities. We believe that no one is illegal and that everyone has the right to live without fear,” they wrote.
Jose “Chelin” Guevara, a fellow Utah activist and president of the nonprofit Capitan Zarigueya, criticized the “generalizations” he feared Cox was making about immigrants.
“It is essential to condemn immigrants involved in serious crimes. However, extending the fight against crime to the generalization of immigration status can reinforce negative stereotypes about law-abiding people. We shouldn't,” Guevara said. said According to the statement: salt lake tribune.
Antonio Valbuena, director of the Bridges21 initiative, warned that Cox was stirring up “xenophobia and fear of legal immigration” and “creating a hostile environment with no distinction of legal status.” did.
In response to the governor's remarks, business owners seeking cheap labor from immigrant communities also spoke out. Jorge Fierro, founder of Rico Brand Foods, warned Cox against “upsetting” immigrant families.
“Don't upset families who, for whatever reason, decided to come to this country in search of a better life,” Fierro shouted. “Let's check [Utah] “We are not identifying all migrants as criminals,” Cox said, adding that it needed to be “clear” that it was only targeting criminals.
“Please focus on the next thing.” [criminal] There’s no one else, just the population,” Fierro added. “I hope the governor is strong enough to get the job done without impacting people who actually have nothing to do with the crime.”
Despite criticism that he paints with a broad brush, Cox tries to walk a fine line between the “criminals” he wants deported and the immigrants Utah needs more of. And so.
Since being elected governor in 2021, Cox has frequently moved to provide benefits and assistance to immigrants. In fact, just last year, he said how proud he was to have signed the following bills: awarded Waiving in-state college tuition for immigrants.
he also claimed that He wants more immigration, not less, saying, “We need more immigrants in our country. There are so many job openings right now in Utah and other places. It cannot be refilled.”
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