UTAH, OTHER STATES ARE CONSIDERING ADOPTING OWN VERSIONS OF ARIZONA’S SB1070

By Tiana Pugh


Since the passage of Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070 in April, lawmakers in several other states such as Utah are working on bills similar to Arizona’s anti-immigration law, which now faces a challenge by the U.S. Department of Justice.


Like Arizona, Utah legislators say they are frustrated with federal inaction.


Utah State Senator Luz Robles (D) told Weekly Report, “The states cannot regulate immigration. Okay, we get that. But the federal government hasn’t done anything.”


Robles, who is Mexican American, explained her state’s dilemma: “You have one group that is in full support of the Arizona law, and the other talking about things that are a complete 180 from the law. It’s important to find some middle ground.”


Robles said that to mend differences, a bill must address the concerns of the community by giving both documented and undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship.


One of many objectives she cited as important is the removal of the five-year period that children of legal immigrants have to wait before being eligible to receive Medicaid or state insurance.


Utah’s legislature reconvenes in January.