Blind eye to immigration violations

WEST VALLEY CITY — Police officers in several Utah jurisdictions will not prosecute immigration violations, top cops told hundreds of Latinos packed into a shopping center Wednesday night.

Implementation of a voluntary portion of a new immigration law, the cross-deputizing of police officers as immigration agents, will not be done by some of the largest municipalities in Salt Lake County, as well as Park City and the Utah Highway Patrol. Civil rights will be protected regardless of race, nationality or sexual orientation, Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank told the eager audience.

Burbank was flanked by police chiefs from Park City and West Valley City. A representative from Midvale also spoke, as did Utah Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake.

Municipalities won't jeopardize good relationships with Latinos over the state mandate, the local law enforcers said.

Utah Highway Patrol Col. Lance Davenport jumped into the fray, saying state troopers are responsible for traffic safety and don't get paid enough to enforce federal immigration law.

The assembled crowd was made up of families, teenagers, Latino business leaders and community activists. There were chairs enough for only about one-third of attendees; others were forced to stand on stairwells and line the balconies around the foyer of the Latino Mall at 2470 S. Redwood Road.

The new law is set to take effect July 1. It was passed in the 2008 legislative session as SB81, and is a broad bill that addresses things such as the incarceration of illegal immigrants, the issuance of liquor licenses to illegal immigrants and the unauthorized transportation and harboring of illegal immigrants. It also addresses the establishment of a fraudulent documents identification unit and expands the scope of the state's employment status verification system.

Robles told the crowd they should immediately report civil rights violations and support police officers in creating safe communities. Speaking in Spanish, she also said Utah's governor and attorney general were open to talks concerning SB81.

The apprehensive audience was also encouraged to put aside fear and to respect police officers because they put their lives on the line for the community.

E-MAIL: rpalmer@desnews.com