Utah Governor Spencer Cox has announced plans to work with the incoming Trump administration to identify and deport more migrants with criminal behavior who entered the country illegally. He cited the $16 million cost to the state each year of housing migrants in Utah prisons and highlighted the significant proportion of drug-related felony offenses committed by migrants who had entered illegally.
Cox expressed support for Trump’s agenda of mass deportation, particularly focusing on those migrants who have committed crimes. He outlined a series of policy priorities aimed at increasing coordination with federal and local partners to identify and deport illegal immigrants who pose a threat to public safety.
The announcement was met with mixed reactions from lawmakers, with Republican leaders indicating they are working on a package of bills to address the public safety impacts of illegal immigration. Democratic leaders expressed concern about potentially equating immigration with criminality and urged building trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.
Advocates for immigration reform emphasized the importance of focusing enforcement resources on removing bad actors to make communities safer, while also monitoring the implementation of Cox’s policies. Overall, the state of Utah is navigating the complex issue of immigration enforcement, balancing the need for public safety with the fair treatment of immigrants seeking better lives for themselves and their families.
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