House rejects undocumented-students bill

A bill calling for a promise not to work from undocumented students attending Utah state colleges and universities on in-state tuition waivers was defeated in the House in a near split-decision Wednesday.

HB208, sponsored by Rep. Richard Greenwood, R-Roy, was widely supported by anti-illegal immigration groups and garnered committee approval late last week, but ran into a roadblock in floor debate as representatives questioned the validity of creating more obstacles for students already faced with extra challenges. It failed 40-34.

Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield, told the body the effort was reminiscent of efforts by former Alabama Gov. George Wallace — a politician well-known for his pro-segregation stance — who famously stood in front of the doors of a building at the University of Alabama in 1963, attempting to block two African-American students from entering.

"We're a better country now than we were then," McIff said. "Whatever the purpose of this bill is, the actual impact will be to narrow the opening of the schoolhouse doors. I earnestly plead with us … to defeat all measures designed in the ultimate end to narrow the schoolhouse doors."

Greenwood, a retired law enforcement officer, countered arguments against the bill with his contention that the proposal would actually aid students by helping them avoid a felony conviction for working illegally and told the body he heard a mixed message in the debate.

"This is what this country is all about, tough policy," Greenwood said. "What I'm hearing here, reading between the lines, is yes, obey the law, but on this one, don't obey it."

One group that voiced support for the bill in its committee hearing, the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration, ascribed blame for the dilemma to the federal government's lack of action on immigration reform, but said a better solution would be one that aided undocumented students so they would not have to work while attending school.

Ronald Mortenson, a member of the coalition, said in a statement released during floor debate that "the immediate solution is for supporters of the in-state tuition program to step forward and provide students with a way to pay for their education without violating state and federal law."