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SALT LAKE CITY -- Opponents of the "Utah Solution" on immigration--a comprehensive approach lawmakers recently passed--are pushing back against the proposal.
Last week families urged Gov. Herbert to veto an enforcement bill lawmakers had passed. Now he's getting pressure from another angle.
A group of GOP delegates have launched a robo-call, a website and a petition dubbed "Veto HB116.com", calling the bill irresponsible. One state and county delegate estimates 500 to 600 delegates have signed on, and the number is growing.
"As GOP delegates, we support the governor and everything he's done up until now. If he signs this bill I don't think he's going to muster enough delegate support to make it past convention," Brandon Beckham, who is organizing the petition, said.
In the meantime, members of the Latino community kicked off "La Campagna de No Compres" the "campaign of no buying," on Monday. They oppose Utah's immigration measures, saying it's a federal matter. They are calling for Hispanics to avoid spending and to even pull money out of banks for the next two weeks to show their social and economic impact on the community.
Latino community leader Archie Archuleta said, "Not so much to hurt anyone in particular, that's why only the two weeks, but to get the attention that's well deserved and give it the other side."
Others don't think it's the right thing to do.
Tony Yapias, of Projecto Latino de Utah, said, "It would be a slap in the face to say now, ‘After all you've done for us, we're going to support a boycott.'"
Several groups, including the ACLU, are examining Utah's legislation, mulling a potential court challenge.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
