But the tables turned somewhat in the last legislative session. A bill to repeal illegal immigrants' drivers' licenses and state ID cards stalled, but another provision passed into law. It replaced drivers' licenses of illegal immigrants with driving privilege cards that can't be used for identification.

Many anti-illegal immigration activists acknowledge it's a step in the right direction, although they want to see illegal immigrant driving privileges repealed.

This past summer UFIRE gained momentum when the joint Interim Education Committee voted to recommend repealing in-state tuition privileges for undocumented students.

Sizer said UFIRE is also eyeing legislation that would require proof of legal residence before a person can receive social benefits from the state. The wording, he says, is similar to Arizona's controversial Proposition 200.

The Minutemen also seek a state version of federal proposals to require employers to verify an employee's legal status. Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, who is sponsoring the tuition repeal bill, says he is looking "very closely" at required employer verification.

They've met with area mayors and law enforcement officials to seek more involvement in immigration enforcement, though no local officials have yet committed to anything.

Meanwhile, well-established Latino civil rights organizations such as the Utah Coalition of La Raza and Raza Political Action Committee drew a crowd of more than 1,000 people to the state Capitol this past session to try to persuade lawmakers to let them keep their drivers' licenses. Later, hundreds showed up at a rally organized by the University of Utah's MEChA chapter.

New groups such as Utahns for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Proyecto Latino de Utah (Utah Latino Project) also work to counter those against illegal immigration.

UCIR supports comprehensive immigration reform that would include a way for undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status has started an online petition to Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Chris Cannon, both R-Utah, with at least 129 signatures so far.

Yapias, former director of the Utah Office of Hispanic Affairs, organized Proyecto Latino to perform a service day. Some in the Hispanic community opposed the service day, saying it sent the wrong message that Hispanics were indebted to the white community.

Yapias, however, said about 1,000 people turned out for the service day. Now the efforts of Proyecto Latino have turned to fund raising to help address issues facing the Latino community, he said.

"I've talked to several hundred people who called to say, 'This is great. How can we become involved?' " he said.

"That tells me that our community is listening to what we are doing," he said. "They are paying careful attention to the issues directly impacting them. . . . They want to be involved."

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Coming Wednesday: Hurting or helping the economy?

E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com