Hispanic meeting boycotted by some

"We're looking out for the interest of the community," Gallegos said. "(Diaz) thinks she's looking out for the interest of the community. They're never going to convince me a permit is better than a license."

Gallegos was referring to SB227, a law passed this session, which replaces illegal immigrants' drivers' licenses with driving privilege cards that can't be used for government identification. Many in the Hispanic community vehemently opposed the bill, which the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force had reluctantly endorsed, saying it was better than other options lawmakers were considering, including a bill that would revoke illegal immigrants' driving privileges altogether.

During the legislative session, Marco Diaz, a member of the task force, was shouted down at a Hispanic community meeting while trying to explain his group's viewpoint.

There's also been criticism of Huntsman's appointment of Leo Gonzalez as the new director of the Utah Office of Hispanic Affairs. Many in the community believe Gonzalez's political connections got him the job — a view detailed in a recent editorial in the Spanish language newspaper La Prensa.

Armando Solórzano, associate professor of ethnic studies, said the diverging viewpoints seem to reflect a gap between an older generation of leaders and a new generation of bureaucrats. The two don't always get along, he said.

"It's a breaking down in the ways Latinos have dealt with Utah government," Solórzano said. "In the past Latinos created very strong political organizations that the governor or politicians always consulted; the majority were created by Mexican-Americans. Officials and the governor have completely neglected what Latinos have done in the past. It creates ground for confusion."

Solórzano said the division is a reflection of an increasingly diverse community, comprised of "at least 22 very different nationalities."

Two roots of the division Solórzano sees: political differences between Republicans and Democrats, and a religious divide between the majority Catholic Latino culture and minority LDS faith.

"This is a critical moment in the Latino community," said Solórzano.

If Latinos are going to unite, "we need Latinos who have very strong credibility and show through their whole life there are some values and morals they maintain in common ... You never know who's going to do it."

He noted that a U. campus group, MEChA, brought hundreds of people to downtown Salt Lake City in protest of SB227.

"On the other hand, some Latinos ask themselves, 'Why do we need to be together? ... Are Utahns together? Is the nation together? We are divided,' " he said.

Joe Reyna, co-chairman of the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, said his group never meant to divide the community, but he does understand the differing opinions.