The Gang That Can't Shoot Straight

As I mentioned below, 3 of the candidates for St. George City Council have banded together to promise everything to everyone who’s ever wanted anything – no matter what it might be. One of their main points is illegal immigration. A worthwhile point. But, to show that they REALLY mean it, they crow that they signed some guy’s pledge on illegal immigration. (To BYU law school grads from the mid-90s, any guesses on who it is?)

Now, a pledge on illegal immigration could be a good thing – as long as it’s not head-spinning stupid. As Rep. Clark and I pointed out in an op-ed, one initial problem with that pledge is that it was signed in response to a promise of money. I’m not sure that’s legal. Another problem is that the pledge itself is ridiculous. By signing it, the Black Helicopter 3 have pledged that, if elected, they will resign on day 1 . . . if, of course, the pledge means what it says.

It says that the signers will promptly resign, if they provide any city services to an illegal alien. I just hope that, if I am drowning in the City pool or running down the street on fire, I have my proof of citizenship on me, so the lifeguards can save me and the fire department can spray me down. (As you might guess, the pledge has provided the community much entertainment coming up with some of its loony applications.) A law school exam question for you: if a police officer were to encounter someone in cardiac arrest who had “do no resuscitate” documents but no proof of citizenship, would he have to resuscitate? (That’s mine, in case you want to try and top it).

Because the fun is spreading, the author of the pledge sent a clarifying email yesterday. The pledge, in fact, does not mean what it says. I quote: “The fourth item in the Pledge has been the most controversial and misunderstood. The Pledge promises to deny all services to illegal aliens, but implementation of this promise was always intended to be rational and reasonable. We have clarified to each candidate who has expressed concern that this provision does not include emergency services, such as police and fire services. The bottom line here is that cities should deny business licenses, grants, contracts, utilities, housing assistance, recreation services, and other non-emergency services to illegal aliens.”

Okay, then. No recreation services. If I go to a city park or the rec center on a Saturday, but forget my citizenship papers, will I be admitted? Will my children have to carry around their citizenship papers to take a dip in the pool? What if an illegal alien somehow does manage to recreate in a city park – would someone have to resign?

I don’t mean to joke about the issue of illegal immigration. I just mean to point out that the pledge in question is an opportunistic joke. The problem of illegal immigration is serious. And, it requires thoughtful actions. I am optimistic that this will be the year for the legislature to take the issue more seriously. But, as this pledge illustrates, ideas and actions have to make sense. Otherwise, we only go backwards.

What are your ideas?