Immigration enforcement garners favor — and protest

The House, in a 43-30 vote, approved a measure Tuesday to allow some of Utah's law officers to enforce immigration laws.

The bill, HB105, now moves to the Senate. It requires the state's Department of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security for some officers to receive federal training to enforce immigration laws. Such an agreement would be optional for other law enforcement agencies.

"In the course of performing their regular duties, they have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws," said Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, the bill's sponsor. "I've received strong support from various law officers across the state."

However, opponents of the bill, including Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, have said immigrants could be less likely to report crimes if they perceive local officers as federal agents. Others have raised concerns about potential racial profiling.

Donnelson addressed those concerns, saying, "If an officer is found to have engaged in racial profiling, he or she will be decertified."

However, Rep. Jennifer Seelig, D-Salt Lake, worried the bill could hurt police relations with minority communities.

"Do we really want to move backwards with all the progress we have made?" she asked. "I don't see us jumping with any other opportunity to take over any other federal responsibilities."

And Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, said he opposed the bill because "police officers and sheriffs" had told him it would be a burden.

However, Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, a police officer, said, "It goes against my training and everything I believe in ... to let them get back in their car and drive down the road."

"If the federal government is not going to take a stance then us as states have got to step forward," Wimmer said.

DPS is neutral on the bill, said agency spokesman Jeff Nigbur, though he did say any such agreement would need the governor's approval.

If HB105 becomes law, he said, officers cross-deputized under such an agreement wouldn't go out looking for people to pull over on immigration violations.

"It would be reactive in nature, just another skill in the bag," he said. "We want people to feel comfortable to call the Highway Patrol; that's what we're here for."

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Contributing: Shawn Mansell

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com; smansell@desnews.com