Illegal immigration a priority for Utah legislators

February 4, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY

A resolution calling on Congress and specifically Utah's congressional delegation to tackle illegal immigration passed the Senate committee Friday.

It was among three new pieces of legislation on the issue introduced into the Legislature Friday, including one calling for the federal government to repay Utah doctors for treating illegal immigrant workers.

SJR12, sponsored by Sen. Stuart Reid, R-Ogden, says the federal government has "dominant" authority to make immigration policy but has horribly failed.

It urges the state's two U.S. senators and three congressman to advance legislation of their own.

"No matter where we stand on illegal immigration, I think we can all agree that the federal government has been AWOL altogether," said Ron Mortensen, of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration.

"Unless it immediately assumes its responsibility on immigration enforcement, we'll have to try to manage illegal immigration at the state level."

Sen. Orrin Hatch, who proposed a reform package last year, told lawmakers Friday that he doesn't see the federal government doing anything on immigration until the nation's borders are well secured.

Reid's resolution, approved by the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee, says that if Washington doesn't deal with illegal immigration, states must be allowed to manage illegal immigration within their own borders.

Two new bills aim to do that.

Doctors who provide required medical care to illegal immigrants would be able to seek reimbursement under a bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo.

HB165 further proposes to establish a plan where the state would then seek repayment for that treatment from the federal government.

The bill defines required medical services as those called for by the federal government including some hospital care and ambulance or other emergency transportation.

After a reimbursement plan is in place, the proposal calls for the attorney general to negotiate or litigate for repayment from the federal government.

Rep. Bill Wright, R-Holden, unveiled a guest worker program for illegal immigrants administered by the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

HB116 will provide a work permit and an immediate family permit. The plan would require a federal waiver to be implemented.

Local attorney and Latino community activist Mark Alvarez has said repeatedly throughout the illegal immigration debate that a state-level work permit, under any label, violates a federal law that prohibits any employment of illegal aliens.

A waiver would not change that, he said, and continued to talk about guest worker programs giving illegal immigrants false hope.

Alvarez is critical of all state-level immigration proposals whether pro-illegal immigrant, anti-illegal immigrant or a blend.

"I do not believe there is a Utah solution on immigration that would be practical and effective," he said.

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