Conservative group proposes 'working privilege cards' for illegal immigrants; Utah legislator blasts idea

SALT LAKE CITY — Instead of Utah passing its own Arizona-style immigration law, a well-known conservative group is asking legislators to offer undocumented immigrants a "working privilege card."

The Sutherland Institute, a Utah-based conservative research group, says that would be similar to the driving privilege card Utah offers. The working privilege card would allow illegal immigrants to work here legally, and the group says it would reduce identity theft because such immigrants would no longer need a Social Security number or other identification to work.

Paul Mero, Sutherland president, says that even more importantly, the card provision would send a message that Utah is not a tough, exclusionary place, but a welcoming state.

The proposal shows how illegal immigration is a divisive issue even among Utah conservatives.

Mero adds that the "Legislature isn't in the mood to do nothing" about illegal immigration. "It's either going to be the Arizona way, or something different," he said. So the Sutherland Institute is offering what it feels is a practical and compassionate alternative.

He said working privilege cards would be issued by a state agency, such as work force services. The approval process would require applicants to show they have lived in Utah for several years without violating other laws. Mero said it would likely include an application fee, which would be seen as a sort of fine for being in Utah illegally.

"Legislators will be answering questions like, 'What kind of society do we want to live in, and what kind of people are we? Are we welcoming people, or are we exclusionary people?' " Mero said.

"If we're exclusionary people, go ahead and adopt the Arizona policy and start rounding them up and kicking them out, repeal the driving privilege card, repeal in-state tuition, get punitive — and do it with a smile on your face," he said. "Or if we're a different kind of people, a welcoming people, then we'll see these undocumented immigrants as we see ourselves."

Mero said the proposal would have other benefits, as well.

"If (illegal immigrants) see a crime in the house next door to them, under the Sutherland way, I think these folks would pick up the phone and call the cops and help out and keep their community safe," Mero said. "Under the Arizona way, I don't think they pick up the phone."

However, Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, who plans to introduce an Arizona-style law next year, blasted Sutherland's idea.