Political battles over immigration issue heating up

Summer has finally arrived in Utah, but the temperature is not the only thing sizzling. The immigration issue has introduced a new, highly divisive dynamic in Utah politics (thus saving us from what could be a boring 2010 general election season). We review questions Utah politicos are asking:

Will conservative Utah legislators pass legislation similar to the recently passed Arizona measure? Will the Utah business community organize and resist such actions?

Pignanelli: "Few of their children in the country learn English. The signs in our streets have inscriptions in both languages... they will soon so outnumber us that we will not preserve our language, and even our government will become precarious." — Benjamin Franklin, 1753 (commenting on German immigrants).

The controversial Arizona statute (YES, I read it) is an awkward attempt by a state to enforce federal laws. The debate is focused on the following requirement on local enforcement officials: "…where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien and is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, where practical, to determine the immigration status of the person." Frustration, not racism, conceived this law, but implementing this law will mirror racism. Even on the most routine matters, police officers are mandated to investigate the immigration status of anyone who may be a foreigner. (Good luck with that).

A lot will happen before the next legislative session. Local community and political leaders will temper passions. Expect reactions from the business sector who wish to expand, not erode, the pool of hard-working entrepreneurial immigrants. The pressure on Utah lawmakers against an Arizona style law will not be ignored.

Webb: Unless cooler heads prevail, which is doubtful, some monumental political battles are ahead on immigration. The Arizona law, while much more symbolic than substantive, has nevertheless focused immense attention on this issue, galvanizing both sides. But the law is neither as onerous nor as effective as purported by its detractors and proponents. It certainly won't solve the illegal immigration problem, but neither will it result in racial profiling or civil rights violations.