Utah Business magazine named Park City’s J. Enrique Sánchez Venegas to its “20 in Their 20s” 2025 list. Credit: Photo courtesy of Laura Kinser, Kinser Studios When Utah Business magazine named J. Enrique Sánchez Venegas to its 20 in Their 20s list this year, the recognition marked more t han a personal success. It traced back to the teachers, mentors and local programs that guided him from preschool through high school in the Park City School District. Sánchez’s family emigrated from Mexico when he was 2 years old around the time of the 2002 Winter Olympics, following the wave of job opportunities the Games brought to the area. From preschool through graduation at Park City High School, Sánchez moved through the local school system and took part in community programs like Niños on Skis, experiences that helped shape him.  “My bubble was always Park City,” he said. “It provided so many opportunities I wouldn’t have had elsewhere.” An early experience in school guided what would become Sánchez’ professional aspiration: to become a police officer.  As an elementary school student, he and a classmate were sent to the principal’s office for not having the right shoes for a track meet. A school resource officer noticed them and asked why they had been sent to the office. When he heard the reason, Sánchez said he put them in the back of his patrol car, drove them to the Nike outlet and bought them a pair of shoes so that they would be able to participate.  “That was what shaped my desire to become a police officer and join law enforcement,” Sánchez said. “Usually you only see law enforcement when it’s a negative experience. I wanted to be like this police officer, who helped someone, and make a difference, and also be able to speak people’s language in our community.”  His dream seemed within reach until he realized that police departments require U.S. citizenship, something he didn’t have.  When the DACA program launched in 2012, Sánchez gained temporary protection and a work permit, allowing him to get his first job at Fresh Market in Park City. He continued working toward a career in law enforcement and, after high school, began working for Park City Municipal in various roles, eventually becoming the community specialist for the Park City Police Department and City Hall. In that position, he served as a bridge between law enforcement, city staff and the Latino community, helping families navigate systems that often felt inaccessible, he said. The role kept him connected to the work he had hoped to pursue as an officer. “Chief Carpenter and Captain Phil Kirk were really great in helping me join the force as a civilian employee and have a foot in the law-enforcement world,” Sánchez said. In 2021, Sánchez was in his senior year of college, completing an internship in Washington, D.C., where he worked and advocated for immigration issues while still working part time for the Park City Police Department.  One memory of bagging groceries for Mitt Romney while working at Fresh Market came full circle years later. After beginning advocacy work in the capital, he found himself meeting with Romney, then a U.S. senator, and retelling that memory.  “It’s crazy,” he said. “A few years after his presidential run, he’s in our grocery store and I’m bagging his groceries. Then years later, I’m in D.C. asking him to support a pathway to citizenship.” Then a bill emerged in the state Legislature that would allow noncitizens to become police officers. Chief Wade Carpenter called him to explain the proposal and asked if he would be willing to testify. Sánchez spoke before a state Senate committee, and news outlets soon began contacting him about his story and how the bill could change his path.  The measure ultimately passed the state House and Senate and was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox, but it was later withdrawn after Utah’s POST program raised concerns that allowing noncitizens to serve — while federal law still barred them from carrying or owning a firearm — could jeopardize its accreditation. “It went from one day being ‘You’re going to become a police officer when you come back to Park City,’ to actually, ‘This isn’t going to benefit you,’” he said. “It was very discouraging.” The setback unexpectedly redirected him. After media coverage of his testimony circulated online, the American Business Immigration Coalition contacted him and invited him to join a press conference in Salt Lake City calling on U.S. Sens. Romney and Mike Lee to support a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, followed by another event in Washington, D.C., with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.  Soon after, Sánchez became the organization’s intermountain state director, a position he’s had for the last four and a half years. In that role, Sánchez organizes business leaders, faith communities and employers across Utah who support expanded work permits for immigrants who have lived in the country for decades. He works closely with sectors that keep the state running — hospitality, agriculture and other industries that rely on immigrant and seasonal labor — and makes the economic case for immigration reform. He added that local and national economies, especially in places like Park City, depend on immigrant workers. “Immigrants are not bad people,” he said. “They’re here to work and are contributing members of society.” For Sánchez, service and community contribution started early. At 19, he joined his first board: Park City Youth Football, the program he played in as a child. In his own experience, Sánchez said his parents were always supportive, but they weren’t familiar with the communication tools or paperwork schools required, so he often handled those details himself. When he joined the Park City Youth Football board, he was the only member without a child in the program. He became a key link for Spanish-speaking families who needed help navigating schedules, forms and communication. He translated emails, documents and posts to help parents stay informed and as involved as possible. Looking back on what pushed him to be so involved early on, Sánchez credited his parents. “They left everything behind in Mexico and came to a place where they didn’t speak the language,” he said. “Their sacrifices are why we’re here, and I don’t want to waste those sacrifices.” A piece of advice he offers to today’s youth is to not let high school define their futures. He said it’s easy to get caught up in what classmates think, or to avoid certain opportunities because they may not seem popular at the time.  In his case, he remembered being made fun of for joining leadership groups and Latinos in Action, but those choices later opened doors for college scholarships and jobs.  “High school is temporary,” he said. “The connections and the skills that you make in school are going to be forever, so just always put yourself out there even if you feel like it’s keeping you away from friends for some hours.” When Utah Business reached out to tell him he had been selected for the 20 in Their 20s list, the recognition felt surreal, he said. He was nominated by a partner at the Salt Lake Chamber he had worked with to organize a roundtable with U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy.  Sánchez said it was meaningful to be recognized alongside so many others making an impact early in their careers. Utah is the youngest state in the country, he noted, and many of the honorees are already attorneys, business owners or leaders in their fields.  “To be honored alongside them is great,” he said. He said he hopes the recognition can shine light on an often overlooked reality in Park City. “We live in a tourist town, and we function because of our immigrant workers,” he said. “We have the 2034 Olympics coming back up, and we are going to need a workforce that’s stable, that our restaurants, that our hotels, that our ski resorts are going to be able to hire to pull off a successful Games. If you’re a business owner and you want to get involved in the fight for work permits … please reach out. Your voice is very important.” For more on the American Business Immigration Coalition see abic.us. The post Enrique Sánchez reflects on Park City roots after 20 in Their 20s honor appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less