Utah lawmakers moving closer to resolution on illegal immigration legislation

SALT LAKE CITY — State lawmakers appear closer to assembling legislation to address illegal immigration in Utah, though not everyone is content with where it's headed.

"We're making progress," said Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo. "This is a very complex, emotionally charged issue."

That was borne out Tuesday during a legislative hearing in which tea party activists and 9-12ers packed the room to speak against his comprehensive reform bill. More than one of them raised their voices before the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

"You people have degrees," 78-year-old Alexandra Eframo said loudly. "You should be intelligent."

The committee voted 7-1 to advance Bramble's SB288 to the Senate floor. The bill includes enforcement, a guest worker program, fines for being in the country illegally, employer sanctions and in-state tuition for those who obtain a guest worker permit.

"There's some teeth in this," he said.

But opponents say it will continue to make Utah look soft on illegal immigration. particularly because it has a guest worker provision.

"We are going to be leading the nation in amnesty, not a solution," said Alia Herrod, wife of Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo. The committee also heard Herrod's bill that would penalize employers that hire undocumented workers, but took no action on it.

Portions of Bramble's bill would require a federal waiver and the Legislature's own attorneys say some sections are unconstitutional. Absent a court injunction, Bramble said, the measure would become effective July 1, 2013 without federal approval.

In the end, he said, the measure "may be nothing more than a resolution on steroids" that spurs the federal government to action.

"If we can't compromise on some things here, it will be the status quo," said Senate Majority Whip Wayne Niederhauser, R- Sandy. "And the status quo doesn't work."

Bramble and Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, have apparently taken that thought to heart. They reached an agreement Tuesday that will allow both of their bills to move forward. Sandstrom's proposal addresses only enforcement.

"I'm pleased," Sandstrom said. "We absolutely have to have enforcement."

Sandstrom said he is making changes to his enforcement bill and Bramble said he agreed to let it take precedence over the enforcement component of his bill if both should pass.