Guest Pass a Passing Idea

No, I don't mean an idea that will pass away. Yes, I do mean an idea that passes with my approval.

Issue the immigrants guest passes, work cards allowing them to work here temporarily.

It's a great idea. Whoever came up with it -- Utah Attorney Mark Shurtleff, the Sutherland Institute, the Salt Lake Chamber, or whoever -- deserves a slap on the back.

Don't we have something like this already? It's called a work visa and it's used to help staff our ski resorts, among other places.

Thing is, those visas can be expensive. The poor hod worker from Mexico is hardly going to fork over $4,000 for a work visa. (Let's hope Utah's guest pass will be inexpensive.)

So, he sneaks across the border, becomes an "illegal alien."

Sometimes, before he gets out of Mexico, drug runners hit him up to take some merchandise along. Perhaps they cajole him in the kindest of ways, suggesting it might lead to a longer life. However they persuade, they persuade.

But, with apologies to the drug runners, this idea of a guest pass could put a damper on the availability of drug couriers.

A man going through a border check point is hardly going to bring drugs with him, unless he sneaks across with the drugs, sneaks back without them, then heads for the security check point to pass through legally.

And, those unfriendly drug lords -- realizing our friendly immigrant will be going through that check point -- are going to leave him alone. No more threats.

So, giving the poor Mexican worker a legal way to enter the U.S. has a nice little side benefit. (Maybe we should consider allowing more of these folks to come through legally.)

For once, justice, the American way and a good border policy win.