Joe Pyrah

When an illegal immigrant ran over Albert Burns in Spanish Fork on Jan. 31, family and friends say a patriot died.

"Today we are fighting against illegal immigration and the crimes that should not happen," Turner said. "The problem is here and now."

She spoke at a packed meeting, complete with Utah Highway Patrol troopers, on the immigration bill that would do everything from punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants to requiring sheriff's departments to discover and record the nationality of inmates and take appropriate action.

"The people of this state are demanding that we look at it today," said bill sponsor Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, after it was suggested the issue be studied over the summer.

So look at it they did. The bill was amended Friday to continue all in-state tuition programs for illegal immigrants at Utah colleges and universities.

The meeting, run tightly by Sen. Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City, saw alternating views.

"You can tweak these laws and do some things around the edges that are OK with us," said Robin Riggs, general counsel for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. But major reform, he said, is best left to the federal government. His group and other businesses also have major concerns with portions of the bill that not only require them to know the status of all employees, but would also prevent them from firing an employee while at the same time employing an illegal immigrant.

That would invite a flurry of lawsuits from those fired even for the worst offenses, said Jim Olsen, president of the Utah Food Industry Association.

Sen. Mike Waddoups, R-West Jordan, who was testifying and not on the committee, said employers are obligated to do their best to follow the laws.

"If you don't try to obey the laws of the land, then penalties are in order," he said. "I see this is as positive for employers and landlords."

He said for years, illegal immigration wasn't even on the his constituents' radar, but this year it jumped to No. 2 on his survey list, behind education.

There are nearly a dozen bills in this session targeting immigration, a subject usually tackled, albeit unsuccessfully, by the federal government. There continue to be passionate, though usually cordial, arguments in committees and hallways at the Capitol about Utah's role in the national debate.

As strong as the movement has been to crack down on illegal immigration, majority leadership hasn't taken the hard line on all bills.

For example, Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said last week he favors driving-privilege cards for those unlawfully in the country because they provide a measure of safety for everyone else. They allow police to know who drivers are, require that card holders take driving-competency tests and increase the number of people with car insurance.

"It's working for what we asked it to do," he said. "No matter how you vote, you're going to make some very strong opinionated people angry with you."

But what if immigration laws themselves aren't just?, asked Teresa Martinez, a professor at the University of Utah. She brought up the history of laws that have allowed everything from slavery to child labor.

"Clearly the rule of law leaves something to be desired unless wise and thoughtful citizens keep an eye on the nature of the law," she said. "Existing immigration laws can no longer speak for the common good."

Turner just wants laws that speak to the good of citizens.

"He was an illegal immigrant and we may never hear from him again," she said of the man who hit Burns and has since posted bail. "If the laws are lax, we allow things to happen that should not."

The bill passed 4-2, with Sens. Scott McCoy and Ross Romero, both Democrats of Salt Lake City, opposing. It now moves to the Senate floor.