SALT LAKE CITY — Community organizers pushing for immigration rights and reform are disappointed in Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s weekend trip to the border.
Cox visited Texas with over a dozen other GOP governors in support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Together, they signed a letter in support of Abbott’s stance of “self-defense,” writing:
“We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor, Greg Abbott, and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border. ”
Liliana Bolanos with Utah With All Immigrants said Cox’s support surprised her.
“I thought it was something that the governor also prioritized and stood for,” she said. “I felt like he failed the minority groups that include the undocumented residents here in Utah by him encouraging that kind of violence.”
According to the American Immigration Council , immigrants (documented and undocumented) make up 8.4% of Utah’s population.
According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal , there are 4,532 undocumented students in higher education, and 1,000 undocumented students graduate high school each year.