Utah among 18 states aiming to copy Arizona immigration law

BOISE — Arizona's sweeping new immigration law doesn't even take effect until next month, but lawmakers in Utah and nearly 20 other states are already clamoring to follow in its footsteps.

Gubernatorial candidates in Florida and Minnesota are singing the law's praises, as are some lawmakers in other states far from the Mexico border such as Idaho and Nebraska. But states also are watching legal challenges to the new law, and whether boycotts over it will harm Arizona's economy.

In Utah, just one state away from the border, lawmakers such as Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, are interested in passing a similar law but considering what changes to make. Sandstrom will fly to Arizona on Monday with other Utah legislators — House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, and Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clinton. The three will meet with Arizona law enforcement officials and drive with them to the Mexican border, where they will hold a town hall meeting with local ranchers on what they describe as a fact-finding tour.

The Arizona law, set to take effect July 29, requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they think is in the country illegally. Undocumented immigrants face up to six months in jail and $2,500 in fines, in addition to federal deportation.

Lawmakers or candidates in as many as 18 states say they want to push similar measures when their legislative sessions start up again in 2011. Arizona-style legislation may have the best chance of passing in Oklahoma, which in 2007 gave police more power to check the immigration status of people they arrest.

Bills similar to the law Arizona's legislature approved in April have already been introduced in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Minnesota, South Carolina and Michigan, but none will advance this year. Any Utah legislation would be introduced in the next legislative session, which begins in January.

Business, agriculture and civil-rights groups oppose such legislation, saying legal residents who are Hispanic would be unjustly harassed and that immigration is a federal rather than a state responsibility. Supporters say police will not stop people solely on the basis of skin color and argue that illegal immigrants are draining state coffers by taking jobs, using public services, fueling gang violence and filling prisons.

"If the feds won't do it, states are saying, 'We're going to have to do it,' " said Idaho state Sen. Monty Pearce. Pearce's second cousin is the author of the Arizona law, Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce. Both are Republicans.