Utah Senator Unveils Broad Immigration Reform

Bloomberg Business Week: A Utah senator has unveiled an immigration reform bill he says balances enforcement provisions with economic realities. Many conservative Republicans, however, oppose the bill because it offers amnesty for illegal immigrants. Among the most vocal critics are sponsors of enforcement-only bills that already have passed the House. Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said Senate Bill 288 combines language from most of those House bills, to ensure the different laws coordinate. Bramble said it's also kinder and doesn't carry the stigma of Arizona-style enforcement, although enforcement is a core element. Law enforcement will be required to check the immigration status of anyone stopped for a class A misdemeanor or a felony, Bramble said. Businesses will also be fined for hiring illegal workers. But enforcement is balanced by compassion, Bramble said. Illegal immigrants would be able to register as guest workers and use driving privilege cards. Their children would qualify for in-state college tuition. The guest worker permits would not be available until July 1, 2013, and the state would need a federal waiver. The federal government, in fact, is a hurdle for most reform, Bramble said. Enforcement measures, for example, need the federal government to deport people the state arrests.