Immigrants help shape every part of our state; building businesses, enriching classrooms, strengthening families, and living out the shared faith and values that define Utah.

• When we take time to understand immigration, we replace fear with connection and choose compassion over division. Together, we can build a Utah where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to thrive.

• Explore how immigration laws have evolved in Utah and across the nation by visiting our Immigration Timeline.

• Then, watch this short video from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to learn more about what it truly means to be undocumented in the U.S.:
  What does it mean to be undocumented? – YouTube

Immigration laws are complex and often misunderstood. Here’s a quick overview of the main pathways people use to come to or stay in the U.S.:

• Family-based immigration: joining close family members who are citizens or residents

• Employment-based visas: skilled or sponsored workers

• Humanitarian protections: asylum, refugee status, U Visa, VAWA, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

• Other options: DACA, student visas, or the diversity visa lottery

There is no single “line” to get into, and for many, no legal pathway exists under current law. You can watch this short video from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to learn more about this reality: When someone says, “Why don’t they come here ‘the right way?'" - YouTube

Many people wonder why immigrants don’t “just come legally.” The truth is that for most, there is no simple or timely path, even for those who have lived, worked, and raised families in the U.S. for years.

U.S. immigration laws are outdated and highly restrictive. The last major update to the Immigration and Nationality Act was in 1996, nearly 30 years ago, and even then, many provisions either stayed the same or became more restrictive, limiting pathways for families and individuals to immigrate lawfully. Here’s why the process can take years or even decades: Here’s why the process can take years or even decades:

• Strict visa limits: Every country has annual caps on how many green cards can be issued. For countries with high demand, like Mexico, the Philippines, and India, backlogs stretch 10–20 years or more.

• The Visa Bulletin: Each month, the U.S. Department of State publishes a Visa Bulletin showing which applications are finally eligible for processing. Many families see their “priority dates” move forward by only a few weeks each year, or stall for years at a time.

• Few legal pathways: Many immigrants, especially those seeking safety, stability, or family unity, simply don’t qualify for any existing visa category. There is often no legal line to stand in.

• Processing delays: Even eligible applicants face long waits for interviews, background checks, and paperwork due to understaffed immigration agencies and overwhelming backlogs.

• Family Separation: U.S. citizens and green card holders can apply to bring close family members to the United States, but it can take many years, or even decades, for them to come legally, if ever. In some cases, there’s no legal path at all. For example, if a parent entered the country without permission and needs a special waiver to fix their status, they might not qualify unless they have a U.S. citizen or green card–holding spouse or parent to apply through, not a child.

• Changing policies: Shifts in federal priorities, court rulings, and administrative delays can freeze or reopen programs overnight, leaving families in limbo.

• Challenges in the Immigration Courts

  • For those seeking asylum or fighting deportation, the immigration court system poses even greater challenges. There are very few immigration judges nationwide handling millions of pending cases, leading to wait times of five years or more for a single hearing.

  • During this time, many immigrants live in uncertainty, unable to reunite with family, work legally, or access basic stability. Watch this short video from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to learn more about the courts: Immigration Court vs Criminal Court: What's the difference?

For many Utah families, these long waits mean separation, uncertainty, and hardship, despite their deep contributions to our communities.

As allies, we can advocate for compassionate, common-sense immigration reform that upholds both the rule of law and the divine dignity of every person seeking safety, opportunity, and belonging.

Understanding the language of immigration helps us communicate with empathy and accuracy. Here are some key terms that often come up in conversations and advocacy:

• Immigrant: A person who moves to another country to live permanently.

• Migrant: A broad term for anyone moving from one place to another, within or across borders, often for work, safety, or family reasons. While “immigrant” implies permanent relocation, “migrant” can describe both temporary and long-term movement. Migrants include seasonal workers, refugees, and people seeking asylum.

• Green Card: A Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a “green card,” allows someone who is not a citizen to live and work in the United States indefinitely. It is often a key step toward U.S. citizenship. Green cards can be obtained through family sponsorship, employment, refugee or asylum status, or other qualifying categories.

• Undocumented Immigrant: Many undocumented immigrants have lived in the United States for years, contributing to their communities, paying taxes, and raising U.S.-born children. But they continue to face constant uncertainty and limited access to essential services. For many, the path to legal status is long, ever-changing, and difficult, if one even exists for them.

• DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): A temporary immigration status that provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to individuals who came to the U.S. as children. DACA recipients, often called “Dreamers”, contribute significantly to Utah’s workforce, education system, and civic life, though they lack a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship.

• Unaccompanied Minor (UIACs): A child who enters the United States without a parent or legal guardian. Many are fleeing violence, trafficking, or extreme poverty. Once in the U.S., they are placed in federal custody while awaiting immigration proceedings or family reunification.

• TPS (Temporary Protected Status): A temporary immigration status granted to individuals from certain countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. People with TPS can live and work legally in the U.S. for as long as their country’s designation remains in place but do not automatically gain permanent residency. Many TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for decades, building families and communities here.

• Asylum Seeker: Someone who has fled their home country due to persecution or fear of persecution and is seeking protection in another country. In the U.S., a person can only apply for asylum after entering the country or arriving at a U.S. border.

  Asylum seekers may enter without a visa and must surrender to immigration officials at a port of entry or border checkpoint to begin the asylum process. They must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Once granted asylum, they may later apply for a green card and eventually U.S. citizenship.

• Refugee: A person recognized under international law as having fled their country due to persecution, war, or violence. Refugees undergo rigorous vetting before resettling in the U.S. and are offered assistance to rebuild their lives safely.

Watch this short video from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to learn more about these commonly used terms: What is the difference between immigrant, refugee, or asylum seeker?-Youtube

Understanding the truth about immigration helps us move beyond stereotypes and build informed, compassionate advocacy. Let’s clear up some common misconceptions you might hear in everyday conversations and look at what the research really says.

Myth 1: Utah is a “sanctuary state.”
Fact: Utah is not a sanctuary state. A sanctuary state is one where state or local policies limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, such as restricting when local police can share immigration status with ICE.

Utah follows federal immigration laws but has a mixed record on state action. Lawmakers have passed both welcoming measures that reflect Utah’s values of compassion and opportunity, and restrictive policies that create barriers for immigrant families. Learn more about some of these policies on our immigration timeline.

You can also learn more from the Utah Compact on Immigration.

Myth 2: Immigrants don’t pay taxes.
Fact: Both documented and undocumented immigrants contribute billions in federal, state, and local taxes every year. In Utah alone, undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $118 million annually in state and local taxes. You can also learn more by watching this video: Does immigration benefit our country?

Sources: Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and American Immigration Council (AIC).

Myth 3: Immigrants take jobs away from U.S.-born workers.
Fact: Immigrants often fill critical workforce gaps, especially in healthcare, construction, agriculture, and service industries, helping Utah’s economy grow. Research shows immigration generally raises wages for U.S.-born workers over time. You can also learn more by watching this video: Does immigration benefit our country?

Sources: Pew Research Center.

Myth 4: Immigrants increase crime rates.
Fact: Decades of research show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens. In Utah, immigrant communities strengthen neighborhoods and foster greater trust and connection.
Sources: Cato Institute, and American Immigration Council.

Faith calls us to love our neighbors, lift the vulnerable, and act with compassion. There are many ways to serve Utah’s immigrant community and help families feel seen, supported, and safe:

• Volunteer your time through opportunities listed on our Volunteer Page to offer hands-on help and connection.

• Give to the Immigrant Family Unity Fund, which provides direct financial and legal support to immigrant families in need.

• Join the No More a Stranger Foundation, a Utah-based effort where volunteers are trained to help immigrant families complete essential legal forms under the supervision of an immigration attorney. This is a meaningful act of service and solidarity.

• Take the immigration law course at Brigham Young University, where proceeds go toward funding immigrants’ legal petitions, turning learning into love in action.

Together, through compassion and service, we can build a Utah where every family feels a true sense of belonging.