"These kids are condemned for decisions that are not in their hands," he said. "By not allowing them to go to college they become a problem, something the community will need to take care of. Also, going to college will allow them to improve the hispanic as well as the larger community."

State Office of Hispanic Affairs director Tony Yapias, who attended the summit, praised Hatch for his "courageous" stand to "give them the opportunity for an education."

"In the long term this is going to benefit these kids," he said. "More than that, we're going to have an educated Latino population benefiting the economy of this nation."

Hatch told the group the bill is still controversial, and he does not dare bring it to the Senate floor until he has 60 co-sponsors — or the three-fifths majority needed to cut off a likely filibuster by opponents.

He currently has 47 co-sponsors.

One critic is Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. During Senate Judiciary Committee debate last year, Sessions said, "It sends the message that America has immigration laws, but we don't intend to enforce them. It says that if you get away with it (illegal immigration) for a while, we will not only not punish you — we will reward you."

The bill is controversial in Utah as well. Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, who is shepherding the bill in the House, was forced into a primary election this year largely by opponents of that bill and other immigration reform he is pushing, which opponents contended amounts to amnesty for illegal aliens.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com