Letter: Our new government must prioritize a pathway to citizenship

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi administers the oath of office to members of the 117th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. | Bill Clark, Pool Photo via Associated Press

With a new year, a new Congress and a new administration set to start in the White House, legislative priorities are being made across the government. At the top of this list must be the creation of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrant youth.

Growing up in a town with a significant immigrant population, I had many classmates, teammates, and friends without legal documentation. I gradually realized that, because of the weight of their status, they could not get a driver’s license, feel safe in most work environments or apply for some scholarships. America was their only home, yet it treated them as strangers.

In a place like Utah, where we pride ourselves on our values system’s focus on empowering individuals, we are uniquely positioned to be national leaders in this movement. I call upon my representatives, namely Sen. Mitt Romney, Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. John Curtis, to commit to making legislation that would make the hope and security that comes from citizenship for undocumented youth a priority in their work this year.

Faith Williams

Provo

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