This article highlights a tension between Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s support for the Utah Compact on Immigration and his endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans.
The Utah Compact, a document first released in 2010, advocates for compassionate and pragmatic immigration policies, emphasizing the importance of treating undocumented immigrants with dignity while focusing on criminal behavior for enforcement.
The article’s author, a co-author of the Compact, argues that Cox’s support for Trump’s mass deportation policies contradicts the values outlined in the Compact.
The author expresses concern that Trump’s policies could redefine criminal behavior to include law-abiding undocumented immigrants, which could lead to a police-state mentality.
Despite this, the author believes that Cox, known for his prudence and decency, would not intend to deport every undocumented resident but is perhaps unclear on how to reconcile his support for both policies.
The author stresses that the Utah Compact provides a more humane and practical approach to immigration, urging Cox to remain true to its principles.