Utah Minutemen clash with SLC Police Chief

Last Update: 4/13 9:15 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A safe haven for illegals, that's what Utah’s Minutemen say will be created if a new state immigration law is not enforced.

Monday night the Minutemen held an emergency meeting to get their point across. ABC 4 talked to both sides of this heated debate.

In cities like San Diego, the Minutemen are armed citizens watching the border for illegal immigrants crossing into the US. In Utah, they mostly lobby for stronger immigration laws. When they learned Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank refused to enforce a new immigration law, it was outrage. The minutemen dubbed the chief "Sanctuary Burbank."

Eli Cawley of the Utah Minutemen said, "Salt Lake City is a sanctuary city. Illegal aliens are free to live, work and contract business here just like they are in California."

Utah's new law takes effect in July. It would allow the federal government to cross-deputize or train local police to enforce federal immigration laws. However, police departments can choose not to participate. That's what Chief Burbank's done. He believes the law could lead to racial profiling.

The minutemen believe that, “the provisions of 287g are color blind. Everyone who is taken by the police is treated the same."

This is not true, at least at the county jail.

Lt. Don Hutson Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office said, “We do not have a current database where we can check everyone who comes in the door.â€