Tough immigrant bill may be dead

Illegal immigrants will still be able to get a driver's license.

SB242, which would have required a Social Security number to get a driver's license, was not voted on by the Senate Business and Labor Committee Friday and will probably not make it to the Senate floor this session. Currently, a person can also get a driver's license with a temporary identification number (ITIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

The bill was the first of a trio of bills this session that are intended to repeal privileges -- including resident tuition for their children and access to some government programs -- that have been granted to illegal immigrants and undocumented workers in recent years.

Committee members, however, worried that the bill was encouraging further lawbreaking by the immigrants, would prevent them from insuring their vehicles, and would unduly punish those who, while illegally in this country, still contribute to the economy and often pay taxes.

The most passionate argument came from Sen. Howard Stephenson, R- Draper, who said that "five years ago, I would have co-sponsored this bill" but has since realized that the undocumented workers served an important purpose. Instead of pursuing the small concessions given to the people who often do the lowest-wage service jobs, government leaders should either try to help them or truly close the border.

"Because of cheap labor, we are benefitting as a country," he said. "We could shut down the border. I look at the Soviet Union and their success in stopping people from leaving. Our federal government does not do that, by choice, because we need these people."

He also criticized those who try to take away these privileges, and suggested that if they truly wanted to stop the flood of immigrants, they should pay the significantly higher prices for goods made only by legal immigrants and citizens.

"Every citizen of this country is an accomplice in inviting and helping them cross the border," he said. "Anybody who buys a $14 flat of strawberries is helping those people cross illegally. Everyone who enjoys cheap food or a hotel room that is 25 percent less because of cheap labor . . . is an accomplice."

Sponsoring Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, said that he has noticed a real problem in his city because of illegal immigrants coming from California for a Utah license. Additionally, by getting a license, immigrants could access other government services that should only be given to legal immigrants and citizens.

"If you're here illegally, it would appear to be very difficult to get these privileges and make them legal, when their whole basis for being here is illegal," he said. "I have a real problem with that."

There is still an opportunity for legislators to eliminate the driver's license privilege included in HB109, which provides a more broad revocation of the ability to use the ITIN number for government services. That bill is still with the House Rules Committee.

E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright C 2004 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.