Tough stance urged on immigration

ST. GEORGE — The reputation of Republican Arizona State Rep. Russell Pearce — an outspoken proponent of new, get-tough immigration policies in his state — clearly preceded him to his appearance before a satellite hearing of the Utah Legislature's Immigration Interim Committee as most of the 200 or so people in attendance greeted him with a roar of applause.

Pearce's presentation on the campus of Dixie State College was just one on a lengthy committee agenda mostly dealing with details of the federal government's E-Verify system for confirming workers' legal status in the U.S. — but he was the crowd favorite in a hearing that played more like a pep-rally than a formal legislative gathering.

Pearce touted the success of immigration legislation in Arizona, particularly 2004's Proposition 200, which, among other things, requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in the state and created penalties for public officials who fail to ascertain citizenship before issuing publicly funded benefits. Pearce reiterated his no-nonsense stance saying that the only help he would offer an illegal immigrant was to give them a hand in "finding a way back home." He also urged committee members to pursue more stringent legislation aimed at illegal immigration in Utah, and discounted counsel the committee chairman Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said they received from the office of the U.S. Attorney for Utah indicating that Utah law enforcement officers could not legally arrest illegal immigrants for entrance violations.

"You can arrest them for entering and you can arrest them for remaining," Pearce said. "I'm telling you, you do not have limitations. ... do your homework, the courts have been absolutely clear on the issue."

The stance of the majority in the audiences toward immigration issues may have been most telling in their response to a question by committee member Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden, who asked Pearce if the best policy for controlling illegal immigration would be to put soldiers on the border and "shoot people as they come across" which incited another round of loud applause.