A Latino community leader's plans for a rally in support of President Bush's call for comprehensive immigration reform is causing a bit of a stir among Latinos.

Tony Yapias, as director of Proyecto Latino de Utah, is organizing the rally to coincide with the president's scheduled visit to Salt Lake City Aug. 30. Yapias also serves as chairman of the Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucus.

Yapias said he wants the rally to be a multi-ethnic, non-partisan call for the president to push for reforms that would legalize many of the nation's illegal immigrants, make legal immigration easier and at the same time bolster border security.

"We need to focus on immigration and on immigration only," Yapias said. "The only agenda we have is immigration reform for our people."

Buba Roth, chief executive officer of the Utah Peace Institute is supporting the rally, because she says immigration reform effects all of Utah's ethnic communities and president Bush's plan makes more sense than any other she's seen.

However, some have expressed confusion about what the rally is about, and others are encouraging attendance at another protest largely focused on the Iraq war, where immigration will be among issues Bush is called to task for.

"I don't know what Tony Yapias is doing with the rally," said Philip Bernal, chairman of the Salt Lake County Hispanic Democratic Caucus. "I've spoken to a number of people in the Hispanic community, and they have said they will not attend a pro-Bush rally. Everyone is trying to find out what is the real purpose."

Health care, the war in Iraq, prisoner abuse and immigration are among issues that Archie Archuleta, immediate past chairman of the Utah and Salt Lake County Hispanic Democratic caucuses, is hoping will draw Hispanics to the protest planned at the City-County Building.

"The important thing is there is a whole host of things the president is being called to account for," Archuleta said of the protest, at which key speakers will be Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan.

Archuleta said there's not much chance of immigration being addressed before the November elections after the House and Senate have stalled talks on their competing measures. Archuleta added that many of Bush's key constituents are calling for enforcement-only measures.

But Yapias said his rally will simply be to call for comprehensive immigration reform, an issue on which Yapias believes Bush can influence Congress to act.

"We want this to be focused on immigration, we don't want to mix it up with the war," Yapias said. "I believe immigration is the biggest issue, they believe the war is the biggest issue. Those who come to our rally will come because they believe immigration is an important issue."