Comments about ‘Variety of bills in Utah legislative session will look at all sides of immigration issue’

Most of these legislators seem clueless. How about strengthening the laws passed this last session, so that eVerify is required by all employers for all employees? If any illegals are found to be hired by a company, hit the company with a large fine (such as $10,000/illegal) and maybe take away their business license for a time, such as Arizona does. Make it part of the business license renewal that they have to show their compliance to the law. Otherwise, they don't need to do business in Utah.

And, yes, require citizenship checks on all people who are arrested. Maybe even require fingerprinting and verification of all people who are getting state entitlements. If you want something for free from the State, expect to prove you deserve it. Get rid of the Driving Privilege cards, no tuition for illegals who can't legally get a job anyway, etc., etc.

And, of course, Herbert won't get behind any bills. That would require leadership.

Some of these guys seem a little presumptuous. There is, after all, an election in November.

Amen, amen, amen to everything Emophiliac wrote. Illegal immigrants know that they are here illegally but their employers know it even better and definitely should be the first to be held accountable. And a person who is arrested for ANYthing should be checked for citizenship status. If someone is showing criminal intent, then let's know their status. Emophiliac has some great ideas - that one about fingerprinting and verification of all who receive state funds is spot on. In fact, nothing suggested by that post is out of line. Thank you, whoever you are. Perhaps you should think about running for a public office; you seem very aware and capable. oh, wait, that would never work...

It is funny that it is always when we are getting close to elections that the Republicans get tough on illegal immigration, they had 8 years in power and did nothing to solve the problem, but now that november is coming up the issue comes up again, well the Arizona governor did her job and got what she wanted. The people are so gullible...

We don't need to change the constitution, only reinterpret it. Few countries have "birthright citizenship", this is not a normal situation but was created to assure the citizenship of the slaves, after the Civil War. This problem is not one of the Constitution. A correct reading of the 14th Amendment does not give birth-right citizenship. If you're a citizen of another nation, you're subject to THEIR jurisdiction, not ours.

This is not a partisan issue but one of our National Security and of the gravest of importance to the future of our National Sovereignty.

As border states enact tougher laws, the illegals are just going to move here. Implement E-Verify Now. Since the Federal Government does not have the capacity to enforce immigration laws, then it needs to be done by the states.

Once we have enforcement, we need a number for citizens to report illegals, for reasons not based on racial profiling such as an entire household that speaks no English. Further, require that immigrants to the US speak English immediately and from now on. Do it now.

With 7% unemployment in the state and 10% nationally, guest workers would be an insult to every working person in this state.

Business needs to stop trying to upset the economic balance between business and labor in this state and country by flooding the labor market.

Who would run this new program, how would it be funded. Are we going to create a new police force to make sure they don't use Utah as a corridor to enter neighboring states? If we don't have money for enforcement, we surely don't have money for this fake amnesty. This would create a influx of people equal to California.

Why don't we just enforce the laws and stop making excuses? Business and the individuals took the risk, they both knew they could be caught.

First of all we have two different thought processes about illegal aliens and immigration. Illegal aliens are after no immigration laws and have contempt for law and order. Americans want law and order and identification of foreign nationals and their actions. We want business held accountable to the federal labor laws and employing illegal aliens who use them to subvert and threaten the american labor force in to submission of lower wages, or get replaced by some slave labor illegal alien.

Most important though, we need to define and illegal alien and immigration laws and who they apply to. Those here under occupation forces from mexico have no immigration or permission to be in this country, that's not immigration.

There are laws in place in every school, government welfare agency the requires that parents be identified of citizenship status before their children can be allowed in to the schools. But these laws are never imposed or enforced.

Also I think the state has the right to question and impose citizenship restrictions on newborns of illegal aliens. Right now illegals look at this as forced citizenship because it interferes with their own countries laws to return to their homes.

Elder M. Russell Ballard publicly supported the "2002 law allowing undocumented college students to pay in-state tuition"... does Rep. Wimmer think he knows better than Elder Ballard?

Contradictory statements from the Gov:

"We need to respect the rule of law," the governor said, citing principles he outlined at his recent roundtable discussion on immigration.

He said he was pleased to see different proposals starting to surface, including one for a state-run guest worker program that would allow illegal immigrants to hold jobs and pay taxes.

The State of Utah creating its own Guest Worker program violates federal law. Only the federal government can enter into agreements with foreign governments.

There is already a federal guest worker program. If someone really wants to come to the U.S. "just to work" - as all of the illegal immigrant apologist keep saying - workers can sign up for the existing program and then REALLY, just come here to work.

All VERY GOOD POINTS made above!

BUT:.....the MOST IMPORTANT point is for each and every one of us to contact our legislators lest they "forget" what they are supposed to be doing this legislative session. In past years legislators have "sort of....-kind of" pretended to want to do something about illegal alien invasions; then the campaign dollars start to flow from their business buddies who employ the illegals, and......somehow the legislators forget who they work for!

Lets help the legislators keep "focused" this year!

Let's get down to the basics of every law. They are writing laws that will mandate police officers to act as immigration officers. They are mandating all police officers question anyone with an accent to PROVE they are here legally. This is disgusting and discriminatory and a violation of the 4th Amendment. The federal government knows we rely on immigrants for our food supply and during the building boom for construction. If we shut down migrant work our food costs will double.

These are anti-brown laws. They make Utah look bad and will cost millions to defend because it is not legal for Utah to enforce FEDERAL immigration laws.

These message bills are being written for ONE reason. These lawmakers have no economic solutions for the state or any other viable solution for our real problems. They want you to blame immigrants for everything and re-elect them for doing something about an imaginary crisis they invented.

Unfortunately it looks like a few but very vocal people are responding to this and stupidly falling in line. Way to go guys. Sell out minorities so you can stay in office. How do you sleep at night?

Again, a lot of partial truths and giant leaps of logic to conclusions on the part of legislators and the general public. Let's let the real debate be guided by the available data, while admitting that the data is not complete or perfect. Hopefully actual data and not just un-grounded political opinions will be considered when the legislature considers these multiple bills.

For example, an expanded national guest worker program is a needed win/win for all, (currently there are strict limits on the number of temporary work visas allowed in specific job categories.)However, under no circumstance should Utah pass its own guest worker program. This will only encourage un-documented workers from other states to flock to Utah and overwhelm the program.

Another example, whether an AZ type bill or other enforcment bills, why don't legislators support the existing enforcment laws and programs first. What about offering grants to counties to help implement "secure communities" in the remaining 15 or so counties that don't yet have it? Currently only two counties, Weber and Washington have implemented 287-G. Before we create new unfunded mandates to local agencies, enforce the current laws!

It would also be helpful if those offering their opinions on this issue, would stop using name calling, and empty rhetoric, and actually add something to the debate. Stop whining and give us your specific policy prescriptions for making progress on the issue of illegal immigration. It adds nothing of value to say "its simple, enforce the laws", and many other tired warn out phrases. I think we all get the fact that there is a problem.

But some of us actually think about various ways and means to solve the problem. What specific laws federal and state need to be changed? What resources will be needed to beef up enforcement at the border? How effective will it be? What role should local law enforcement play? Who can apprehend un-documented residents who have committed no other crime? Who can hold them and where will they be held awaiting deportation? Who will bear the cost of beefed up local immigration enforcement, in a down economy, where local and state budgets are already broken?

Answer some of these questions and many more and I'll listen to what you have to say. Otherwise it sounds like whining without responsibility.

Republicans win votes by periodically whipping up fear of "scary brown people." Declaring war on lettuce pickers is a good way to deflect attention from the bankruptcy of Utah schools, ethical problems,etc.

@ rob88scps

I don't think Ballard knows anymore about this issue than anyone else...If the LDS church wants the Illegals here then they should put up some money to pay for the services Illegals use!

To Words and Actions: It is more than the higher price on food that we might have if foreign nationals were to go home. It is not just about money. Even though in the long run I think the immigrants cost us more than they help us (hospital costs, education, insurance, identity thief, etc). It is really about the United States being a sovereign country. When we start thinking it is ok to break laws because we do not like the law then we are on the downhill slope.

Yup.....it is all a smoke screen to deflect attention from issues that can REALLY make a difference or that REALLY need attention.

Get on the immigration bandwagon boys and girls...we're headed to get reelected and then sit own our dimes the rest of the term!

They ignore the written law's of the land, Church hire illegal's to work for them, yet the church tells media outlets that "the (LDS) Church has a long-standing policy of not profiting from (define) ill-gotten gains?," through the criminal element of illegal aliens?. It amazes me that lawmakers out there wonder why immigrants keep flooding into Utah when we offer these government-provided benefits to them. If we really want to deal with the problem and the issue, we need to get rid of the incentives and the illegal's to.

A FINE EXAMPLE HERE:

More federal tax dollars wasted here on illegal's?. More pork/earmarks also for illegal's?. The eight "needs improvement" schools are Antelope and Fremont elementaries in Davis District, Oquirrh Hills Elementary in Granite District, Farrer and Timpanogos elementaries in Provo District, Montezuma Creek Elementary in San Juan District, Coral Canyon Elementary in Washington District and the state-chartered Dual Immersion Academy. Title 1 schools get an approximate $60 million in additional federal support annually ?. Just get back to Home Schooling Utah.

Most of these Republican politicians keep spreading lies and falsehoods. Either they're stupid or very deceiving. I think is the later. A lot of the points they're talking about have already been cleared up in the news. Those receiving government help or benefits are American citizents (children of illegal immigrants) who have the right to get those benefits - education, health care, food stamps etc.

Here they go again calling inocent American children "illegal immigrants."

Illegal immigrants pay taxes - sales taxes at stores, property taxes (by owning or renting), and income taxes which their employers pay or they use a Tax number which the government gives them. There are very few who may not pay income taxes.

Being here illegally is not criminal, it's a civil offense similar to going 5 miles over the speed limit.

These deceiving politicians are the leaders of the racist mob headed by Sandstrom. They keep spreading fear and prejudice about all Hispanics. They have taken a leave of their principles or they're diverting attention from the real problems in Utah -ethical, drug, education, economic, bankrupcies, etc. I think is both.

Let's get rid of the bad apples - illegal immigrants who are felons and hard core criminals, and unprincipled, deceiving, racist politicians in Utah.

Let's keep the good apples - illegal immigrants that contribute to society and otherwise obey the law, and honest politicians who don't cook up numbers for the sake of smearing minorities.