National attention for Utah Compact puts spotlight on state Legislature
December 5th, 2010 @ 11:07pm

By Logan Daniels

SALT LAKE CITY -- A New York Times editorial is drawing national attention to how the Utah Compact on immigration could be a model for the federal government and other states to follow. With that kind of scrutiny, state Sen. Luz Robles hopes her colleagues will craft moderate legislation.

Robles says the state's view of immigration is evolving beyond sound bites.

"I think we are going to see maybe Utah finding a comprehensive solution that could be, at the end of the day, a good skeleton for bigger comprehensive immigration reform," she said.

She admits there are some holdouts in the Legislature who still advocate a strict enforcement solution, but with the nation watching Utah more closely she says that could change.

"We're having so many people looking at what Utah is doing, so maybe the fact that we're getting this national attention will be beneficial as we move towards the session," she said.

There are at least 12 proposals for immigration legislation ready for January's session, and Robles says with those options, even if the federal government can't find a solution, Utah will."

P.S. -- Notice they're talking about "immigration" and not [illegal] immigration? Why?