Bramble declined to comment on how the Oklahoma legislation might impact Utah until he could review Hickman's proposal. He did say Oklahoma "is trying to take a comprehensive approach. They are trying to take a tough stand; they're trying to do what the federal government should have been doing."

In St. George, City Councilman Rod Orton says illegal immigration is already impacting elections. He blames the issue for his recent primary loss, which cut short his bid for re-election.

"I think it determined the election," Orton said. "There's no question that it had an impact."

Three candidates vying for a first-time seat on the St. George City Council who did pass the primary are supported by two groups that oppose illegal immigration: the political action committee called Defend Dixie and the group Citizens Council Against Illegal Immigration.

Among those candidates is Ed Baca, a retired police officer from California.

"That is one of the biggest issues facing us," Baca said. "The federal government's not doing anything about it. It's a hot-button issue, and you can't shy away from it," Baca said.

Both political action groups have argued that St. George is becoming a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigration, citing an influx of Hispanic residents and an increase in the school system of Spanish-speaking children.

But Orton said St. George already has done what it can to address the issue of illegal immigration. He said many residents seemed to be infuriated when he expressed that view on a recent radio call-in program.

"I was ready to talk about some of the most critical campaign issues facing our city in years," Orton said. "Issues like building major beltways around the city, building a new airport and economic development, but no one would ask me those kinds of questions. They all wanted to talk about illegal immigration."

The issue is also one that Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, says his constituents want him to address. Donnelson has in the past sponsored bills to get tough on illegal immigrants, including a bill to repeal a state law that allows qualified undocumented students to pay in-state tuition.

"If we had enforced the law way back when, we wouldn't be having this problem now," Donnelson said. "We're trying to correct it now, and it's hard.... The federal government, they haven't got the guts to do anything about it."

But Antonella Romero Packard, co-chairwoman of the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, worries that justified frustration over the federal government's failure would lead to unjust and overly broad punitive legislation.

"It is disheartening," she said. "We're bracing ourselves for some nasty pieces of legislation that may be coming our way."

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