Whereas:

The United States has long prided itself on being a nation open to and comprised of immigrants, as expressed in the famous words of Emma Lazarus: “Give me your tired , your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”; AND

The US has sought to create continent-wide and global free trade zones for goods, capital, and information but not yet for free movement of labor in these zones; AND

It is estimated that immigrants living in the United States are contributing around $10 billion a year to the economy and paying $133 billion a year in taxes; AND

Even though some 11 million undocumented immigrant workers pay taxes and Social Security (thus helping to support the retiring “baby boom” generation), they are unable to benefit from Social Security and other tax-funded programs; AND

Undocumented immigrants are highly vulnerable to exploitation by employers who use workers’ undocumented status to prevent them from organizing and to keep wages low; AND

Hispanic or Latino influence in many states predates the annexation of those areas by the US, complicating the perception that illegal Hispanic immigrants are “invading” America; AND

Legalization preserves immigrant family units and enhances the welfare of US citizen-born children of undocumented immigrants; AND

Legalization can promote economic development and political stability abroad, thus reducing migratory pressures.

And whereas we believe that:

The scriptures are testaments of migrating peoples: the Israelites, various Book of Mormon peoples, even the Latter-day Saints themselves; AND

The Book of Mormon exhorts us not to allow "the beggar [to put] up his petition to you in vain" and warns against the attitude that "this man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not . . . impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer . . . For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God . . .?” (Mosiah 4:16-17, 19); AND

The Lord specifically charges us to reach out to foreigners living among us: And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34) I will be a swift witness . . . against those . . . that turn aside the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts. (3 Nephi 24:5) I was a stranger, and ye took me in. (Matthew 25:35)

Now therefore let it be resolved that MESJ:

1.	Supports efforts to protect undocumented immigrant workers from exploitation.
2.	Favors creating avenues to legalization for undocumented immigrants working in the United States and their dependents.
3.	Advocates an increase in the availability of work visas and suggests improving processing times of all visas.
4.	Encourages economic development in other countries as a way to reduce the pressures that prompt individuals to emigrate.
5.	Will work to create awareness of attitudes of racism, xenophobia, or national superiority that still pervade discussions of legal and illegal immigration.

Adopted 5 May 2004