The 2 year memorial event of Joaquin Luna Jr. took place yesterday in Texas with good support from a south Texas community (see video here). 2 years ago, Joaquin Luna Jr. took his life the day after Thanksgiving Day because he felt he had no hope.
See 2 year Joaquin Luna Jr. Memorial event video news coverage here.
We have evaluated religious leaders across the entire religious spectrum, but there is one that I feel is lagging in light of the Utah Compact that was supported by high elders in the Mormon Church. The Mormon Church Supports Principles of Utah Compact on Immigration, yet, not one single U.S. House of Representative supported the DREAM Act in December 2010. For those who may not know — Utah is essentially the Mecca of Mormonism with one of their beautifully built churches in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mormons have tremendous power in the State of Utah — but what good does that power do when their church leaders are getting ignored and when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a supportive statement following the announcement of the Utah Compact, an immigrant-friendly document backed by a broad spectrum of community leaders?
Representatives Rob Bishop, Jason Chaffetz and Jim Matheson did not vote for the DREAM Act in 2010. And while the Utah Compact
was a nice gesture, what we are looking for now is federal teeth since immigration is protected by the Supremacy Clause of our United States Constitution.
As we approach Thanksgiving Day, we cannot help but think about Joaquin Luna Jr., yet, here we are, watching and analyzing how these leaders are acting and what they represent.
We will not be surprised to hear of Utah House of Representatives getting a vigil visit, to help them see the hurt and harm a broken immigration system can cause. Many are acting like Scrooge as we embark on what is supposed to be a thankful and giving spiritual season.