Polygamy and Immigration

At first, they would appear to have little in common, polygamy and immigration. The former has come into sharp national focus after 462 children were seized from a compound of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or FLDS in Texas. Issues abound about the number of pregnant underage girls the sect harbored, and the like.

What's interesting is the response of law enforcement in Texas, Utah, and Arizona. These are states where FLDS members live. They are living illegally, regardless of whether there are any underage children involved in marriages, pregnancies, etc. Yet both the attorneys general of Utah and Arizona appear to be approaching this illegality with a caution unseen when dealing with the question of illegal immigration in their states.

There's a town hall meeting planned tonight in St. George Utah. The top law enforcement officials of both Arizona and Utah will be there. Neither plans any mass raids on polygamous settlements in their states. Contrast this with the get tough attitude lawmen take when it comes to illegals. The major rationale there is that these immigrants are breaking the law.

Okay, fine. But what about polygamy? Last I checked, that was illegal as well. Yet the law breaking argument has less weight in these cases. The attorneys general appear to be looking for abuse cases first and foremost, as well they should. But will they lock anyone up for the crime of polygamy? There seems to almost be a nod-nod, wink-wink attitude that permeates discussions on the issue, whether it be from those who engage in the practice, or those charged with bringing them to justice.

No such luck for illegal immigrants.