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Richard Piatt reportingA bill that would take away driving privileges from illegal immigrants is again making headway at the Utah State Capitol.
The legislation is one of a series of immigrant-related bills that reflect frustration about the bigger issue.
Nearly everyone agrees that driver's licenses are a small part of an enormous immigration picture. The issue has people frustrated to a boiling point, and they are willing to tackle a number of angles to address it somehow.
As one of at least a half dozen immigration-related bills, the driver's license bill has a chance of being folded into either a more comprehensive bill, or into a task force for further study.
But there are clearly people who want action soon; even as others caution against acting inappropriately. Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, said, "If we delay it longer, it's going to delay Congress from doing something about it. Congress needs to get off its big duff and do something about it instead of leaving the state's hanging out to dry, which is what's happening." Wally McCormack supports the driver's license bill. He says, "This is a start. We have to start taking our country back, we have to be able to know who is in our state, and the only way to do it is follow the rule of law."
Jorge Arce-Laretta disagrees. "It's working. The issue of driver's privilege cards is working. Most people are buying insurance, and that's a great benefit to our state," Arce-Laretta.
Araueni Oliveras says, "These message bills have real consequences to people. And I don't think they're intended consequences, but very real consequences to immigrants."
The bill will now get the full attention of the House of Representatives. There are also bills this year that address in-state college tuition for children of illegal immigrants. Another bill takes on those who knowingly employ those who are here illegally, and another that would expand local law enforcement power.
Those are just a few bills that both reflect the climate of frustration over the issue. They also reflect concern that the problems and cost of dealing with illegal immigrants could get worse.
