Illegal Immigration Fractures House Republicans

Feb 12, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Dealing with illegal immigration is proving to be a divisive issue for Utah Republicans. Representative Glenn Donnelson's bill revoking driver privilege cards for undocumented aliens passed the House Monday, but not without no votes from 16 Republican Representatives

"All these immigration bills are nothing but signals that are being sent. They solve no problem. They just exacerbate the problem," Rep. Stephen Clark says."But they do draw a line in the sand and they do identify those for, and those against."

The Provo Representative voted against the measure because he says revoking driver privilege cards for illegal immigrants doesn't address the larger problem - the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Representative Dave Clark, from Washington County, says he's also frustrated with the federal government's failure to address the problem. But he feels that's why states must now take up the issue.

"If Congress is unwilling to resolve this particular issue and it has been punted back to the states, then by-golly, I guess we'll have to do it," Rep. Dave Clark says.

H-B 239 now heads to the Senate for consideration. Click here for the bill text and a podcast of the entire floor debate.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW