Governor Gary R. Herbert
The Utah Department of Safety would issue state visas to undocumented workers and their families, first of it kind in the U.S.
By H. Nelson Goodson
March 16, 2011
Salt Lake City, Utah - On Tuesday, Governor Gary R. Herbert signed four immigration bills including HB 116 into law, which addressed immigration enforcement, guest-worker visas and employment veritification by employers in Utah. Utah became the first state to enact laws to let illegal workers remain in the state along with their families.
Governor Herbert called it "the Utah solution." He said, "Utah has taken a thoughtful, rational approach and found common ground."
A press release from the Governor's Office said, Flanked by business, religious, and legislative leaders in the Gold Room of the Utah Capitol, the Governor touted the day as an historic one. "Utah did the right thing. We did the hard thing," he said. "Today I challenge our federal delegation and those who work alongside them in Washington, D.C.: It is time to get off the sidelines and have a meaningful dialogue about immigration in this country."
While most acknowledge immigration is primarily a federal issue, Governor Herbert said these bills provide him some leverage at the federal level to engage the federal government in addressing Utah's challenges, according to the press release.
The federal government would have to grant a waiver, since the U.S. Congress can only enact immigration laws and enforce them. If the federal government fails to grant a waiver, Utah might engage in a legal challenge by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The guest-worker program under HB 116 will take effect in two years. It would allow the Utah Department of Safety to issue state visas to more than 110,000 undocumented immigrants in the state. Immigrants would have to pay $2,500 for permits or pay $1,000 for overstaying a visa in the U.S. Their families would be included in the permits. Undocumented workers would have to go through a background investigation once they sign up for the guest-worker program. They would be expected to learn English, but would not be required.
The HB 116 sponsors of the bill were State Representative Bill Wright (R-Holden) and State Senator Stuart Reid.
In other news, the Maryland state senate approved SB 167 by a vote of 27-20 to allow in-state tuition for undocumented students who attend universities and colleges.
In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker's (R) two year budget 2011-2013 repeals in-state tuition for undocumented students who attend universities and colleges. The in-state tuition bill was signed into law by former Governor Jim Doyle (D) in 2009.
State Representative Donald Pridemore (R-Hartford) began circulating a similar Arizona immigration enforcement bill (PDF copy of bill at http://bit.ly/eyjCGo) at the Capitol to try and get sponsors for it. Pridemore says, his bill protects against racial profiling and targets criminal activity by undocumented immigrants.
Under the bill, police can only approach suspected illegals, if they committed a crime, are turned in by a town, local, county and state employee when seeking public services or have violated an ordinance. Pridemore wants to prevent undocumented immigrants from engaging in illegal gang activity and smuggling drugs into Wisconsin and causing fatal accidents while driving drunk without a license.
Former Governor Doyle enacted a law in 2005 preventing undocumented immigrants from getting a state driver's license without a Social Security number.
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The Utah Department of Safety would issue state visas to undocumented workers and their families, first of it kind in the U.S.
By H. Nelson Goodson
March 16, 2011
Salt Lake City, Utah - On Tuesday, Governor Gary R. Herbert signed four immigration bills including HB 116 into law, which addressed immigration enforcement, guest-worker visas and employment veritification by employers in Utah. Utah became the first state to enact laws to let illegal workers remain in the state along with their families.
Governor Herbert called it "the Utah solution." He said, "Utah has taken a thoughtful, rational approach and found common ground."
A press release from the Governor's Office said, Flanked by business, religious, and legislative leaders in the Gold Room of the Utah Capitol, the Governor touted the day as an historic one. "Utah did the right thing. We did the hard thing," he said. "Today I challenge our federal delegation and those who work alongside them in Washington, D.C.: It is time to get off the sidelines and have a meaningful dialogue about immigration in this country."
While most acknowledge immigration is primarily a federal issue, Governor Herbert said these bills provide him some leverage at the federal level to engage the federal government in addressing Utah's challenges, according to the press release.
The federal government would have to grant a waiver, since the U.S. Congress can only enact immigration laws and enforce them. If the federal government fails to grant a waiver, Utah might engage in a legal challenge by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The guest-worker program under HB 116 will take effect in two years. It would allow the Utah Department of Safety to issue state visas to more than 110,000 undocumented immigrants in the state. Immigrants would have to pay $2,500 for permits or pay $1,000 for overstaying a visa in the U.S. Their families would be included in the permits. Undocumented workers would have to go through a background investigation once they sign up for the guest-worker program. They would be expected to learn English, but would not be required.
The HB 116 sponsors of the bill were State Representative Bill Wright (R-Holden) and State Senator Stuart Reid.
In other news, the Maryland state senate approved SB 167 by a vote of 27-20 to allow in-state tuition for undocumented students who attend universities and colleges.
In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker's (R) two year budget 2011-2013 repeals in-state tuition for undocumented students who attend universities and colleges. The in-state tuition bill was signed into law by former Governor Jim Doyle (D) in 2009.
State Representative Donald Pridemore (R-Hartford) began circulating a similar Arizona immigration enforcement bill (PDF copy of bill at http://bit.ly/eyjCGo) at the Capitol to try and get sponsors for it. Pridemore says, his bill protects against racial profiling and targets criminal activity by undocumented immigrants.
Under the bill, police can only approach suspected illegals, if they committed a crime, are turned in by a town, local, county and state employee when seeking public services or have violated an ordinance. Pridemore wants to prevent undocumented immigrants from engaging in illegal gang activity and smuggling drugs into Wisconsin and causing fatal accidents while driving drunk without a license.
Former Governor Doyle enacted a law in 2005 preventing undocumented immigrants from getting a state driver's license without a Social Security number.
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
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