Provo Daily Herald: “In wake of federal crackdown on immigration, Utah leaders advocate for immigration reform”

In the wake of some controversial immigration orders by the Donald Trump administration, Utah politicians and business leaders gathered Tuesday to advocate for immigration reform.

President Trump’s actions have included enacting a temporary travel ban from seven countries. The Associated Press reported Tuesday morning that Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly signed memos making any immigrant who is in the country illegally and is charged or convicted of any offense an enforcement priority.

The group New American Economy released data highlighting the economic contributions immigrants make in Utah each year as part of an effort to call on Congress to initiate immigration reform that makes it easier for people to be in the United States legally.

In Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses the majority of Utah County’s population, 7.2 percent of the population is immigrants — or about 51,000 people. In 2014, those immigrants paid about $284.3 million in taxes, according to NAE’s statistics.

Utah’s 4th Congressional District, which includes the western part of Utah County, has a higher percentage of immigrants, at 10.5 percent, or 76,411 people, and paid $390.4 million in taxes.

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