1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose HB88 and Representative Trevor Lee's related proposals targeting undocumented immigrants. These bills are fundamentally anti-Utah and contradict our state's values and practical interests. HB88 would prohibit undocumented immigrants from accessing housing assistance, healthcare, homeless services, food stamps, WIC, vaccines, and communicable disease treatment. This approach is not just cruel, it is dangerous policy that will harm all Utahns. When we deny vaccinations to children based on their parents' immigration status, we put entire communities at risk of disease outbreaks. When we force people away from preventive care, we shift costs to emergency rooms and hospitals, increasing expenses for everyone. The bill is modeled after an Idaho law that was partially blocked by federal courts in July after the ACLU sued, demonstrating its legal vulnerability. Lee's proposal to ban anyone from providing housing to undocumented people mirrors Tennessee legislation currently being challenged as unconstitutional. Utah should not waste taxpayer resources defending legally dubious laws. These policies will push mixed-status families, where children are citizens but parents are undocumented, into crisis. They will create a chilling effect that undermines trust between service providers and the families they serve. As Aden Batar of Catholic Community Services warns, this will strain emergency systems, hospitals, shelters, schools, and nonprofits throughout Utah. Undocumented immigrants contribute to Utah's economy through taxes and purchases. Requiring small church pantries and community organizations to verify immigration status diverts resources from actual care and contradicts Utah's tradition of welcoming refugees and immigrants. Utah has real needs in education and infrastructure. Pursuing divisive, legally questionable legislation during an election year serves no one. I urge you to oppose HB88 and all related bills that would make Utah less safe, less compassionate, and less prosperous.