Dan | 1:47 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Chris R. | 5:48 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Coach | 5:50 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Comments continue below
Mike | 6:19 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Migra man | 7:24 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Mano dura contra los ilegales. Send them home and let them come back the right way.
Dave | 7:59 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Read between the lines. It's sounds like we are trying to fix the 'illegal problem, by punishing ourselves.
Michael | 8:38 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
The Raven | 8:58 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Sounds good. Let's get this bill passed and signed into law ASAP. The sooner the better!
Re: Coach | 8:59 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
So Stealing is ok as long as you do it for the good of your family?
Wind Sock | 9:17 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
My answers will depend on which way the wind is blowing. It isn't waffling; it's politics.
Almost a graduate | 9:19 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Michelle. | 9:34 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
What great man is our governor.!!!!
Chad | 9:56 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Frankie | 10:00 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Ilegal Bagel | 10:22 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
my two cents | 10:25 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Stewart | 10:38 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Mr. Compassion | 10:51 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
tenx | 11:04 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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.
Ilegal Bagel | 12:26 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008
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!
my two cents | 12:49 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Mr. Compassion, I shovel my own walk and mow my own grass. My legal nephew just lost his job building homes, so he can replace the illegals that are doing it now when they leave. Maybe if we ate less fast food and did more lawn mowing and snow shoveling, we wouldn't be so fat! And how many of those illegals actually keep thier insurance after they get their driving card?
Reply to: | 1:36 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Mr. Compassion, I already am independent enough to do most of the things you talk about.. However, I am not independent enough to compete with the illegal labor prices that rule the building industry in Utah. Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to put illegal employers out of business and deport all illegal aliens.
fg | 1:40 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Mr. Compassion, it was claimed by Mexico, but there were no settlements here, and according to international law at that time, not legal. Any nation could "claim" it. It was never part of their country.

When the pioneers came here, they took no one else's jobs, they did not steal their identities, and they did not overtax their social systems. You need some new rationalizations for breaking the law.

Don't count on the Federal candidates on passing amnesty after they are elected. The states actions are proving that idea to be unpopular. people are starting to get very upset about the ability of our local, state and federal government to obey the law when pressured by business groups. Morals, ethics and what's right should never be up for bid to the highest bidder.
jnz | 10:37 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Mr. Compassion thank you for supporting us.... I came legally here by plane and not swimming like everybody think inmigrants people do ... I am a mother with 2 american kids, I tried to fix my status situation but this didn't work for the slow and bad system of inmigration office.. Anyway I learned english in my country and I never have asked for food stamps or any institution for help .... We are a good family who came here for a better life.
American people must feel blessed for the great opportunity they have and some don't see... we are not taking their jobs away. They just don't like to do it,or they don't care .. we're hard workers.... so here we go!! Some people should get legal status with good records.
illegal bagel | 10:10 a.m. Feb. 23, 2008
Good Morning!!! None of you immigrant bashers are going to eat at McDonalds today are ya? Sure your not, put down your fork! Oh, and don't eat at like....Olive Garden, or um Chukkkky Rama k?

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