Utah lawmakers are following President Donald Trump’s lead and focusing on issues concerning immigration during the 2025 Legislative session.
The bills they are proposing emphasize deportation and punishing immigrants who have committed crimes within the U.S.
This is advertised as a public safety initiative but is merely foreshadowing this administration’s xenophobic agenda.
By supporting Trump’s immigration suggestions, Utah is submitting to his more immense desire to exclude immigrants from the U.S.
Immigration Impacts in Utah
Recent proposed bills such as HB226 and HB87 focus on deporting incarcerated immigrants. HB226 proposes the deportation of immigrants upon completing their sentences and HB87 proposes further punishment for fentanyl distributed by undocumented immigrants. The ideas within these bills are difficult to dispute since criminals of any nature and fentanyl distributors alike must face repercussions. However, the focus must be on public safety, not just public safety from immigrants.
It is strategic to mark his return to the Oval Office with the proposal of immigration bills which are difficult to dispute. Trump spotlighting incarcerated immigrants tells the population that immigrants are criminals. If his true intention was curbing fentanyl distribution, then the spotlight would be on all fentanyl distributors. But that is not what these bills intend to do. The true goal is to create fear and anger toward immigrants. Do not be fooled by hate masked as public safety.
Trump and Mexico
We must acknowledge not all immigrants are criminals. Trump’s negativity towards immigration is especially directed at the southern border. Immigration policies under his presidency are essentially synonymous with Mexican immigration.
By highlighting the tension between Mexico and the U.S., our administration is blurring the line between Americans’ views on Mexican people and dangerous criminals.
This ideology creates and reinforces harmful stigmas towards Mexican people within the U.S., regardless of their citizenship or lack thereof.
A president in office who is openly skeptical and hateful towards an ethnicity accounting for about 38,000,000 of the U.S. population is repulsive. He believes this ideology is inherently American. He couldn’t be more wrong.
Trump is leading Utah and the rest of the country into a future excluding Mexicans from the U.S. Our current legislative bills are avenues into more extravagant bills in the future, including ending birthright citizenship, halting all refugee admissions and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
Immigration and the 14th Amendment
We cannot forget the origins of birthright citizenship. Congress enacted the 14th Amendment in 1868 to allow citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S.
Birthright citizenship in the U.S. is rooted in inclusivity and eliminating legal inequalities.
Now that white people of European descent have maintained control of America for long enough, they are losing sight of their nation’s history. Policymakers protecting the Constitution must not undo the system that made it possible for them to hold power in the first place. As they do so, they are swimming in hypocrisy.
Trump expresses contradicting beliefs on the 14th Amendment.
On the official White House website, he delivers a message about his desired changes to birthright citizenship.
He claims the amendment was “rightly repudiated” after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford. This ruling decided Black people enslaved in the U.S. were not citizens.
Trump called this “shameful.” However, he contradicts himself within the next paragraph of his message. He said, “But the 14th Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States.”
He interprets the U.S. Constitution based on which races he believes can and cannot be granted citizenship. This mimics the Supreme Court ruling excluding Black people from citizenship solely due to their race.
Even though he said it was shameful, he is re-enacting this today with immigrants, especially from Mexico. This is not the American way.
Keep Utah American
Americans and Utahns alike must not forget that our country’s foundation is rooted in immigration. European settlers and pioneers sought new beginnings, economic opportunity and religious freedom. This the same story for many immigrants today.
Utahns must recognize that HB226 and HB87 are merely stepping stones into the aforementioned larger actions that do not represent American values. Utah is state that was pioneered by travelers seeking refuge. Now is not the time to shut the door on others peacefully doing the same.
These House Bills must not discourage Utahns from keeping the doors open to immigrants. Punishing convicted criminals and keeping Utah safe is needed. But, keeping immigrants out is not the solution. The solution is focusing efforts on the criminals committing the dangerous crimes. This must be the case if these bills are focused on public safety.
Utahns must stay vigilant as more actions are proposed to keep immigrants out. These actions might be masked as public safety or other do-good initiatives. These house bills are merely the start to something bigger and more hateful.
Immigration is American
It is the American way to promote reasonable immigration policies and fair treatment for immigrants. This must be highlighted in Utah, not disregarded. Many immigrants from all over the world had peacefully resided in the country long before Trump arrived in Washington, D.C.
If our nation continues to restrict immigration then the Statue of Liberty loses integrity. The statue’s plaque delivers a message symbolizing the hopes and dreams of immigrants and refugees entering the country.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddles masses yearning to breathe free.”
Do not succumb to Trump’s hate-filled ideas. Utahns and Americans alike must acknowledge that our neighbors, regardless of where they are from, are not pawns for political warfare.
If you need assistance or refuge in Utah, call 211 or visit 211utah.org
