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Washington • Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff pressed White House officials Wednesday to back a national effort similar to the Utah Compact, a set of goals to deal compassionately with immigration reform.
Shurtleff, in Washington for a meeting with fellow attorneys general, met with President Barack Obama's intergovernmental affairs staff, whom the Utah Republican said were receptive to the concept.
"I think they were really impressed," Shurtleff said. "They didn't commit to anything, but they were really excited about what Utah was able to accomplish."
The Utah Compact, which is backed by various law enforcement authorities, elected officials and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, includes five points on finding a solution to immigration problems. They are: leaving reform to the federal government, recognizing the impact illegal immigration has on families, society and the economy, seeking a humane path forward on any reform and leaving local law officers out of enforcing immigration laws.
Shurtleff says several states have expressed interest in the proposal, which has garnered thousands of signatures in an online petition.
The Utah attorney general also pitched the idea to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and was headed to New York to meet with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office and The New York Times about the Utah Compact.
Members of Congress have introduced a slew of immigration reform bills, though none has seen movement in recent years because of partisan gridlock. Shurtleff says the compact may be the way out.
"If anything can get us un-stalled, it's this," Shurtleff said.