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SALT LAKE CITY -- Immigration promises to be one of the top issues for state lawmakers during Utah's 2010 Legislative Session. Legislators are working on a number of bills dealing with a number of issues.
Monday, Rep. Steve Sandstrom, R-Orem, met with Gov. Gary Herbert to discuss the issue. His bill deals mostly with law enforcement; other lawmakers are tackling other elements of the immigration debate.
Enforcement of immigration law
Sandstrom's bill is currently generating the most attention.
"The onerous parts of the Arizona bill have been taken out," Sandstrom says. "However, the bill has teeth. It's a hard-hitting bill, and it's a tough bill, and that's what we need to send a message that we won't tolerate the illegal immigration."
The bill will have three main elements:
- It makes it a state crime to be in Utah without proper documents.
- It requires police to check immigration status, but only of the driver of a pulled-over vehicle. Others in the vehicle could be questioned if suspected of illegal trafficking.
- It would give state workers, like at the Department of Workforce Services, a way to report fraud -- like suspected use of false Social Security numbers.
"It does require law enforcement, based on reasonable suspicion, to question immigration status of somebody that they reasonably believe is illegal," Sandstrom said.
But Latino activist Tony Yapias says Sandstrom's modified bill still falls short.
"It appears that Representative Sandstrom still doesn't get it," Yapias said. "If you really understood the issue between what states can do and what federal responsibilities are -- he's infringing on federal responsibility of immigration laws."
'Security' bonds for workers and employers
Another immigration bill surfacing ahead of the 2011 session is one that requires "surety" bonds for guest workers and their employers.
Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, is developing the measure, saying half of the illegal workers in the United States were once guest workers. He told KSL Newsradio in a phone interview Monday morning those workers have stayed on because of poor federal enforcement.
"This would provide for the enforcement, but it would require that the employer and employee pay the cost of the enforcement, rather than the American taxpayer," Stephenson said. "Through a surety bond, there would be somebody with an economic interest in their whereabouts who would find them if they abscond."
A "surety" bond is a promise to pay if a second party doesn't meet an obligation.
"They can access, to some degree, the welfare system and other things like that," Stephenson said. "This would ensure that does not happen and that the people who are here have no criminal background, are disease free, and are paying their own cost of policing."
More immigration ideas to be submitted
Meanwhile, Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake City, says political, business and religious leaders have been meeting for months. She's optimistic about possible reform dealing with labor, employment, taxes, integration and education.
"I think there's needs to be thoughtful policy, process and decisions, and policy-making processes," Robles says. "And not just be reacting on emotions, not only acting on misinformation and half-information."
"The goal is Utah can be a laboratory of something different," Robles continues, "something that could work, and even comprehensive enough to show the feds how to fix this problem."
As for Sandstrom, he expects to officially release his bill this week. Other lawmakers plan on unveiling their proposals in the coming weeks.
The next legislative session starts in January.
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Story compiled with contributions from John Daley, Andrew Adams and Jennifer Stagg.
