"Right now the officers who stop these people have to turn them loose," Donnelson said. "Let's do something about it, and not frustrate our officers."

Donnelson's vision for the bill is similar to a 2003 agreement between ICE and the Alabama Department of Public Safety, under which 57 active troopers have received ICE training and certification.

While the certified troopers have discretion to arrest any illegal immigrant they come across during their normal duty, they have focused on those such as convicted sex offenders who have illegally re-entered the country, said Haran Lowe, assistant attorney general with the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

"The way we do it is very, very effective for removing the people who probably pose the most hazard," Lowe said. "We're not talking about the guy who jumps the border and comes over and digs ditches."

In Alabama, Lowe said, the agreement hasn't hurt investigators' ability to gather information from immigrant informants. He added the cost of detention falls on the state only if the illegal immigrants face state charges; otherwise, suspects are detained federally.

For now, the Utah Department of Public Safety is taking a wait-and-see approach, said Sgt. Jeff Nigbur, a spokesman for the agency.

Even if the bill passes, the details of the agreement would have to be worked out. And, Nigbur said, the governor would need to approve it.

"That conversation has not happened, and it's a key provision for that bill to work," Nigbur said.

It's also unclear exactly what federal powers would be given to law officers, he said.

"It's up in the air," he said. "What will be in this contract? What are the powers that it will give to DPS, therefore giving it to other agencies? How much money would it cost?"

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com