The Utah Legislature has sent SB 81, an immigration bill, to the Governor who is expected to sign it in to law. The bill will do the following:
1. Sheriffs in Utah will need to determine the citizenship status of persons charged with felonies and will notify DHS of people whose legal status cannot be verified;
2. Unauthorized immigrants may not get liquor licenses.
3. Limits the production of identification documents to government agencies and such documents may only be issed to US citizens, nationals, or green card holders. Exception is made for people in nonimmigrant status, asylees, refugees, TPS holders and pending adjustment applicants. These applicants can only get identification documents valid only for the duration of time the person is authorized to be in the US. University IDs are not included in the new law.
4. Government agencies must verify their employees through E-Verify.
5. Businesses that contract with government agencies must begin using E-Verify by July 1, 2009.
6. Government agencies shall verify the legal status of recipients of public benefits
7. The Utah Attorney General is directed to negotiate a state-level 287(g) agreement between the state's law enforcement officials and DHS for enforcing immigration laws
8. Under Utah law, transporting or harboring unauthorized immigrants for commercial advantage is a felony (exception for humanitarian assistance