Reader comments
Utah taking action on illegals: Senate appears to favor bill that would create employment barrier

I hope that the legislature moves forward with its plan to start cracking down on illegal immigrants. This bill is long overdue.

I also definitely think that the bill should apply to renters. If you rent to a person that you know is an illegal immigrant, I think that there should be penalties. If illegals have difficulties finding places to stay, then they will have no choice but to return to where they came from. Law enforcement wouldn't have to round up a million illegals all at once. They'd find their own way back.

This bill is too soft. If we take the benefits that illegals steal from legal citizens they will go home and improve their own countries. Any excuse that politicians offer to the contrary shows their lack of understanding and their predisposition to be influenced by outside pressures. This is what the legal citizens want to stabilize the future for our children, I hope the government is listening.

Employers have to make background checks???? I can see this promoting racism. You know that the only people getting checked will those with darker skin. Besides that if you kick all the illegals out then who will roof houses, pick apples, pack meat, or lay carpet. I for one am grateful to the hard work of most the Latino people in this area.

On a related note, please be careful what you tell your children about the illegal immigrants in our area. I'm a teacher and have seen racial comments directed at other kids that nobody should have to hear. I think that we need to remember that they are just people trying to make the best out of their lives and have the best for their families.

It's about time and this bill had better go through. Citizens all across the USA are getting tired of this. Landlords should be required also to prove a renters citizenship. Banks should be required to produce documents for home loans,car loans, bank accounts etc.. All schools should also prove citizenship for students. Mexico's immigration laws are way more strict than the US....what's good for the goose is good for the gander! It's time the US Government started taking better care of the US citizens that need help.

Mano dura contra los ilegales. Send them home and let them come back the right way.

Read between the lines. It's sounds like we are trying to fix the 'illegal problem, by punishing ourselves.

Utah don't complain this harvest season when all your fruit doesn't get picked, because you sent all the workers back to there home. The utah people are to lazy they just want to pick up there welfare checks and have many babies and wifes. The rest of the utah people just sit back and say if we can't convert them let them go home.

Sounds good. Let's get this bill passed and signed into law ASAP. The sooner the better!

So Stealing is ok as long as you do it for the good of your family?

My answers will depend on which way the wind is blowing. It isn't waffling; it's politics.

Hey coach, when I accepted my current job, I was finger printed and there was a back ground check done. I am not hispanic. Interesting that they would do that to me even though I don't have, as you say, "darker skin". Nice try to being racism into this though.
And to Gov. Huntsman, you want us to wait until the feds do something? Do you not read the news? Have you been in hiding for this past year? Wake up and be proactive. The feds aren't going to do anything which is why state's are being forced to do something on their own and it is about time! Kudos to Arizona for starting the ball rolling.

What great man is our governor.!!!!

I own many rental properties. How do I prove some one is a legal resident or not? It is against federal law to discriminate based on race, religion or national origin. A birth certificate will not proof if your here legally. A social security card does not prove legality. Documents may be forged. How do I do prove legality? Do I make those who speak with an accent or have darker skin produce special documents or just not rent to them just incase they might be illegal. Get real this a federal problem and must be solved on that level. The solution is not going to be trying to make cops out of employers or property owners and punishing them for treating people fairly and decently! If this law passes we are damned if we do and damned if we do not.

We all know that all the people that are natural citizens in utah never steal, lie, cheat, do any drugs, its always the mexicans, and if they can't figure out what they are we call HISPANICS...go utah kick them all out and all we will have left is the skin heads to run the state.

Oh my angry friends here we go again. Who will be the first today to write ILLEGAL? All this makes you mad doesn't it? Cause these people are taking your STUFF. Well, I am tired of paying for your children's education, oh and your daughters welfare and for all the other lazy *ss stuff your family does that costs me money. The immigrants, well I don't pay for them, anymore than I pay for you, actually far less than the family that decides to have five children.

I'm glad to see the bill had so much support. Even if it does not go far enough, it is a start and we can strengthen its provision later, if need be.

Hunstman's wavering attitude is worrisome, however. He is proving to be much more liberal than I had hoped.

This article gives you an idea of who is trying to pull the teeth from SB81. Oh, and yes Michael how do you think the crops were harvested and yards were cleaned before you came here? So what is the harm of passing this, since nothing goes into effect for a year and a half? If they give everyone amnesty like has been proposed by Senators McCain, Obama, and Clinton it won't be an issue by then.

The federal government is in the pocket of the cheap labor employers and ethnocentric groups and will not respond to the people. Just as a hundred years ago the fight against child labor came up from the states it looks like this is the way illegal immigration and illegal labor will have to be dealt with.

If you like fast food, shoveled walks, mowed grass, fruit and vegetables, and new home construction, don't cry when it doesn't happen in Utah. Don't cry when you are run into by someone with no driver's license or auto insurance.

And remember "Utah" was part of Mexico when Brigham Young rode into town.

Check out State of Indiana's HB 1225 for comparison. Looks like the ball is rolling in many states. If we don't pass ours we will be the santuary for those leaving the other states, not to mention those still coming across the border.

Hey Mr. Compassion, don't forget standing in line cutting up meat in freezing temps, and slaughtering turkeys. That's what your kids are jonesing to do. Daddy, can I get a job pushing the cart that has the beef hearts in it, puleeeeeze!