Mexico, other countries pan Utah immigration laws

(AP) – 6 minutes ago

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mexico and other Latin American countries say Utah's new immigration laws interfere with diplomatic relations.

The Deseret News reports ( http://bit.ly/s2uAVK ) that 14 Latin American countries signed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against Utah's effort to control immigration.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Utah's laws from taking effect. They require people held for serious crimes to prove their citizenship and allow Utah police agencies to check citizenship for others picked up on minor charges.

U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups (WAH'-duhps) will hold a hearing Feb. 17 on a possible permanent injunction against the laws.

Mexico and the other countries say Utah's immigration efforts are part of a patchwork of illegal state laws that disrupt diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Latin America.

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