Last month President Obama issued executive orders on immigration that will impact nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Those who have been in the United States for at least the past five years, with no criminal history, and in many cases with familial relationships to American citizens, will no longer face deportation from the United States.
National studies suggest that Utah has anywhere between 80,000-100,000 illegal immigrants, with nearly 40,000 of them falling under categories now protected under the President's orders.
Although Utah doesn’t have the highest number of undocumented immigrants, a study by the Migration Policy Institute claims Utah has the highest percentage of immigrants who qualify under President Obama’s announcement. Some speculate that this may be because the state’s family structure, religious generosity and steady economy have created an atmosphere where undocumented workers and their families have been less likely to engage in criminal behavior and to stay in the state to establish their livelihood.
On Thursday’s AU we’ll be speaking with Suyin, a mother of four who came to Utah from Mexico 15 years ago, and who is now eligible, with her family, for protection from deportation. We’ll also speak with Arturo Morales-Llan, who immigrated - legally - from Mexico; and Luis Garza, Executive Director of Communities United/Comunidades Unidas.
