Utah taking action on illegals: Senate appears to favor bill that would create employment barrier

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has not taken a position on the bill, declined to comment on whether the bill's provision exempting religious organizations from liability for sheltering or harboring undocumented immigrants provided sufficient protection for churches, said church spokesman Scott Trotter.

Lane Beattie, president of the Salt Lake Chamber, said his organization's support of SB81 is independent of a broad coalition of business organizations that oppose the comprehensive approach and favor the task force instead. Beattie said the Chamber still supports the task force as a supplement to the bill.

"We had several amendments that were very important to the business community represented by the Chamber of Commerce," Beattie said. "All of our amendments were approved ... we are supporting Sen. Hickman's bill."

Beattie did say he hoped concerns about landlord-tenant relations brought up during the morning session would be addressed.

Hickman said he'd resist any such amendment, saying "It's the responsibility of the landlords, like any other good citizen of the state, to determine the legality of their tenants."

The Chamber's support for SB81 baffled Antonella Romero-Packard, co-chair of the Utah Hispanic/Latino Legislative Task Force.

"Where did the reason go?" she said. "There were some unanswered questions and concerns, I have as a citizen and resident of this state ... They were not listening to any of the valid concerns."

And she questioned the implications for "those of us with brown skin," saying "what happens if I go to get health care and I don't have my documents."

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. also expressed concerns Thursday during his monthly press conference on KUED Channel 7, saying he believes the state should wait for Congress to act on immigration rather than "start creating a patchwork of politics addressing an issue that is generally a federal issue and is crying out for a federal fix." To do so, he supports the task force this year.

"There are economic considerations, there are security considerations, there are human condition considerations," he said.

While stopping short of threatening to veto any specific bill, the governor did say he supports keeping in place driving privilege cards, which allow undocumented immigrants to drive legally, with insurance. He also supports keeping in place a law that allows undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition if they attend a Utah high school for three years and graduate.

Neither of those two proposals are in Hickman's bill. They are, however, included in measures that have passed the House, which Valentine said will be considered together in Senate committee.

Valentine responded to the potential veto, saying "We're still going to be talking to the governor about the immigration bills ... we'll just make our best shot."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com