The Mormon Church Supports Sanctuary Cities

Added: (Fri Feb 03 2012)

Pressbox (Press Release) - The Mormon Church has come out in favor of sanctuary cities, controversial pro-undocumented-immigrant legislation.

January 2012, New Jersey—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known to many as the Mormon Church, has recently come out in favor of sanctuary city legislation. Specifically, they have come out in support of an agreement called the Utah Compact. Although recognizing the importance of strong borders and the rule of law, the Utah Compact opposes law enforcement concentrating on:
Civil violations instead of criminal justice;
Policies that unnecessarily separate families; and
Laws that do not provide a welcoming environment for immigrants and a friendly environment for businesses, many of which employ undocumented immigrants.

Although primarily a symbolic gesture, some argue that the Utah Compact makes the cities that sign it essentially “sanctuary cities”—that is, cities in which immigration law will not be enforced.
The Mormon Church has called the Utah Compact a “reasonable approach to the urgent challenge of immigration reform.” They argue that their support for the Utah Compact comes from fundamental principles of the church -- for instance, its belief in loving one’s neighbor (including one’s undocumented neighbor), the importance of families (and consequent desire not to separate them), and the rule of law (which means they prioritize nations being allowed to defend their borders). They argue that good immigration law ought to balance these three factors in order to create a more just and loving society in which the rights of all are respected.
With the Mormon Church coming out in favor of sanctuary cities and immigration reform, some immigration watchdogs are wondering if this stance may be adopted by other high-profile groups or even states, eventually affecting national discourse and policy. In New Jersey, no such revolution is at hand. In fact, it is more important than ever that you hire an NJ immigration lawyer with experience in navigating the vicissitudes of New Jersey immigration law.
Without skilled legal help, it is almost impossible to keep track of the complications of the law. An experienced NJ immigration lawyer will be able to cope with any changes that occur in immigration law to insure that—whether you require a green card, a work visa, or naturalization —you will have the support you need to pursue your dreams. Call a NJ immigration lawyer today and ask about how they can help you in your specific case.
Helmer Legal is a New Jersey law firm that practices administrative, criminal, immigration, labor, municipal court, personal injury, workers compensation and family law. Their knowledgeable, professional lawyers strive to ethically and compassionately provide the best legal service possible to their clients.

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