Friday, February 01, 2008

2008 Utah Legislation

Bills possibly affecting illegal immigration




Passed

HB0026 Notary Public Revisions Donnelson, G. HOUSE
HB0095 Document Fraud - Establishing Legal Status Morgan, K. HOUSE
HB0098 Utah Employment Verification Act Donnelson, G. HOUSE
HB0237 Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act Donnelson, G. HOUSE
HB0239Driver License Qualification AmendmentsDonnelson, G.HOUSE
HB0241 Repeal of Exemptions from Nonresident Tuition Donnelson, G. HOUSE
HB0257 Employee Verification Herrod, C. HOUSE
HB0262 Recovery of Federal Reimbursement for Costs Associated with Illegal Immigrants Morgan, K. HOUSE
HB0285 Licensing Eligibility Sandstrom, S.

HB0302Citizenship Determination of Incarcerated IndividualsSandstrom, S.



HJR001 Resolution Addressing International Trade Issues Allen, S. HOUSE

SB0052 Identity Theft Amendment Walker, C. SENATE

SCR005
Concurrent Resolution Calling for Congress to Pass Balanced Immigration ReformStephenson, H.
AbandonUnfair Trade Practice - Hiring Illegal AliensMcCoy, S.
SB0081
Illegal ImmigrationHickman, J.
SB0097 Immigration Task Force Jenkins, S.

SCR 5 Concurrent Resolution Calling for Congress to Pass Balanced Immigration Reform

SCR005 Concurrent Resolution Calling for Congress to Pass Balanced Immigration Reform - Sen. Howard Stephenson.

Official purpose: "This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Utah's congressional delegation to work with the United States Congress to pass effective and meaningful immigration reform to enhance the workforce of Utah and continue the economic strength of the state's business environment."

This is a bill working towards increasing LEGAL immigration, particularly "seasonal employees." Line 50 of the proposal states:
  • "WHEREAS, current immigration law addresses neither documented U.S. labor shortages nor marketplace dynamics, and without a lawful avenue to provide seasonal employees, encourages continued unlawful immigration to the U.S. which continues to negatively impact the state's economy"
While the author is correct about illegal aliens' negative impact, there IS a lawful avenue for seasonal employees - the H2A Visa "The H-2A temporary agricultural visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign nationals to enter into the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature." If the complaint is about the speed or number of H2A visas - that would be the item to address. The problem seems possibly to stem form the realization of the H2A worker that better employment can be obtained by ignoring the visa and gaining employment in the better paying industries (e.g. construction) and remaining illegally in the US.

While it may be worthy to declare: "that the Legislature and the Governor express their opposition to granting blanket amnesty to undocumented persons and urge that appropriate sanctions be a part of any solution." Previous calls for Federal Immigration reform have repeatedly been calls for AMNESTY disguised a fine, but giving the malefactor the benefit of remaining PERMANENTLY in the US - with a Pathway to citizenship.

The most egregious failing of this resolution is "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge that all components of Utah state government work to ensure that any efforts to effect immigration laws or laws related to Utah's workforce that impact immigration be deferred until Congress passes immigration reform pursuant to the principles stated in this resolution."

This would apparently mean NOTHING would be passed (if the resolution were to be followed)

(Addendum: The Bill was amended in Committee to remove THAT clause 2/18 and was subsequently passed)

The Utah Legislature CAN, SHOULD and, hopefully, WILL pass legislation THIS YEAR throttling the benefit magnet for illegals to flock to our fair state.

DNews article