Today, we broadcast a panel discussion KCPW moderated at Sprague Library in Sugar House, called Immigration Policy, the Arizona Experience, hosted by the City Library and the Enriching Utah Coalition. It explored Arizona’s experience with SB 1070, a controversial anti illegal-immigration law in that state, and HB 70, a similar Utah bill that just passed out of the Utah House of Representatives.
When illegal immigration-related bills are debated in the Utah Legislature, it’s not just immigration advocates who show up to the meetings. A bill that could cost businesses their license for hiring undocumented immigrants drew the opposition this week of the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah’s leading business advocate.
Utah lawmakers are past the halfway mark of the legislative session with a budget left to approve, immigration reform to consider and a host of legislation still coming of the woodwork. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports on the mood of Senate and House Majority leadership.
A bill that punishes Utah businesses for employing undocumented immigrants cleared the legislature’s House Business and Labor Committee yesterday. But as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, it was sharply divisive.
A three-hour committee hearing at the state capitol Friday ended in Utah lawmakers approving the controversial Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act on a straight party-line vote. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports.
Week three of the Utah legislature’s 2011 session is wrapping up. We checked in with freshman Democratic Representative Joel Briscoe on the budget situation and controversial education and immigration proposals that are being floated.
Responding to concerns about the cost and resources it would take to enforce his anti-illegal immigration bill, Republican Representative Stephen Sandstrom unveiled major changes to it yesterday at the State Capitol. It still requires officers to verify the immigration status of anyone suspected of a Class A misdemeanor or felony, when there is “reasonable suspicion” the person is in the country illegally.
Illegal immigrants would no longer be able to legally drive a car in Utah, if the state legislature passes a Senate bill to scrap the driving privilege card. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports on a committee hearing yesterday where the bill was approved.
A new analysis from the Utah Legislature estimates a bill aimed at catching undocumented immigrants would cost local cities and counties in Utah between $5 and $11 million per year. KCPW’s Jeff Robinson spoke with Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen about his concerns.
Several bills in the Utah legislature this year aim to deal with illegal immigration on the state level. And lawmakers in one senate committee passed a resolution last week urging the federal government to make that effort easier.
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