Utah leaders find immigration law could impact economy

SALT LAKE CITY — More than a dozen Utah officials returned from a "fact finding" trip to Arizona this week with the understanding that a strict immigration law could possibly hurt Utah's economy.

The lieutenant governor, his chief of staff and 11 lawmakers traveled on their own dime to learn more about the implementation of Arizona's controversial immigration law.

Although the most controversial aspects of SB1070 have been put on hold by a federal judge, the law has drawn attention from Utah leaders because immigration will be a hot topic in the upcoming legislative session in January.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell said the trip was informative, if nothing else. "We really feel like we got a 360-degree view of what they feel is the impact of 1070, positive and negative."

The Arizona law would require police and other state officials to determine immigration status if there's reasonable suspicion the person might be in the country illegally.

Others traveling with Bell were Reps. Brad Daw, R-Orem; Brad Last, R-Hurricane; Ryan Wilcox; R-Ogden; Jennifer Seelig, D-Salt Lake; Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake; John Mathis, R-Vernal; and Sens. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville; Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City; Margaret Dayton, R-Orem; Karen Mayne, D-West Valley; and Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake.

The group spent two days meeting with representatives in business, politics, local law enforcement, as well as Border Patrol, the Latino community, and the legal counsel for the state.

Bell says gauging the bill's success was difficult because it depended on whom you talked to.

Some Arizona legislators claimed three-fourths of the state's populous regions support the measure. But the business community, namely the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, painted an ugly picture of 1070's economic fallout.

"They feel like they're seeing some PR fallout," Bell said. "That it's really tarnished the brand of Arizona. I don't know what of that is true."

"To hear the chamber, the hotel association and others clearly stating the loss for them was a strong message," Robles said. "I think that will resonate with anybody in terms of the economy and how we want to see the state of Utah in the future."

Both Bell and Robles agree that tourism and convention revenue are vital to the state's economy. They both say legislators need to take that into consideration when considering any immigration bill.