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"Today is the day we move out of darkness and into God's light," the Rev. Steve Klemz from Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church told a modest but engaged crowd of Latinos on Thursday who had assembled for a "pray for citizenship" rally in front of the federal building offices of Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee.
Just before rush hour, a crowd of roughly 30 gathered at the immigration rally waving citizenship signs before reciting the rosary aloud in Spanish.
Klemz said he was pleased to see Hatch endorse a comprehensive immigration reform bill in committee but noted the bill calling for a path to citizenship still faces uncertain odds.
"He's a hinge because I believe Senator Hatch casts a long shadow," Klemz said. "We're hopeful as it moves to the Senate floor. There are too many people living in fear — too many people living in detention."
Utah faith leaders from Orem to Kearns, joined by DREAM Act students, gathered to pray for a fair, inclusive and direct road map to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. The group argues a path to full citizenship is the only response to the broken patchwork of immigration laws that is consistent with the American values of freedom, fairness and family.