Utah lawmakers take aim at immigration and public safety
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Utah House Republicans revealed a package of bills on Monday that they say would improve public safety and address immigration issues.
State of play: The announcement comes two weeks before President-elect Trump, who has promised mass deportations, is set to take office and after Gov. Spencer Cox announced in November plans to deport undocumented immigrants who posed a threat to public safety.
Why it matters: Immigration is poised to become a major focal point in the upcoming legislative session.
What they're saying: "The chaos at the southern border has put serious strains on our communities, public safety resources, education system and more," state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee (R-Clearfield) said during Monday's news conference at the Capitol.
- "While we are confident that the incoming Trump administration is going to take the southern border much more seriously, we also know that we need to act as state leaders to address the harm caused by the Biden-Harris administration's failure to act," Lisonbee said.
Driving the news: The proposed legislation includes:
- Enhancing penalties for undocumented immigrants who commit felonies and have been convicted of unlawful reentry in the past;
- Increasing penalties for gang-related crimes and human trafficking;
- Directing law enforcement officers to impound vehicles operated by drivers without a license;
- Charging a 2% fee on international wire transfers. That fee would be reimbursable only for tax filers or those with a state ID;
- Requiring more employers to use E-Verify;
- Requiring undocumented immigrants to be deported after incarceration.
The other side: State Rep. Angela Romero (D-Salt Lake City), who said she represents the most racially diverse House district in Utah, told reporters she was concerned about state lawmakers conflating immigration with crime and drug trafficking.
- "Anytime we tie immigration to public safety, it creates a streak of fear" she said.
- Romero also expressed worry over potential legislation, which has not been introduced, that would revoke so-called Driving Privilege Cards, which are for people who cannot obtain a Social Security number or establish a lawful presence.
Between the lines: Advocates have said such efforts to target illegal immigrants could lead to racial profiling or create a "chilling effect" among immigrant communities seeking public resources or law enforcement help.
Reality check: Numerous studies have shown undocumented immigrants are arrested for and commit crimes at a rate far lower than U.S.-born citizens.
By the numbers: Pew Research Center estimates there are 95,000 undocumented immigrants living in Utah, per 2016 data. That's less than 1% of the national undocumented population, which Pew estimated was about 10.7 million in 2016.