The Obama administration’s lawsuit against Arizona over its tough immigration enforcement law won’t deter state Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, who says he is “full steam ahead” in sponsoring a Utah version of the Arizona law. “I actually think the more states that pass legislation and get involved in the lawsuit, the better it’s going to be for defraying costs and fighting the federal government,” said Sandstrom, R-Orem.

Some Democratic strategists are embracing the Obama administration’s legal challenge to Arizona’s new immigration law, arguing that the long-term political dividends with Hispanic voters outweigh any headaches it may cause for swing-district Democrats in this year’s election.

What does the law do? It essentially requires that local governments in Arizona enforce immigration laws. The provision that has received the most attention is the creation of a new state crime: failure to possess proper immigration documents. The law also forbids local entities, such as city councils or police departments, from making it a policy to ignore federal immigration laws. It allows people to sue if such a policy is formulated.

Proponents of the Arizona immigration law say that it has nothing to do with racial profiling. What, then, would constitute a \"reasonable suspicion\" that a person is in this country illegally? How many people with blond hair and blue eyes are likely to be suspected? I live in New Britain. Can you imagine trying to enforce such a law here? Would the police ask everyone who looks Polish to produce their papers?

Reporting from Phoenix — Rafael Robles has been eligible to vote ever since he became a U.S. citizen 23 years ago, but nothing has spurred him to register until two young activists visited his house here last week. The canvassers were part of an ambitious push to increase turnout of Latino voters in the wake of a controversial state law that requires police to determine the immigration status of people they legally stop and suspect are in the country illegally.

The Obama Administration recently appointed a police chief – who believes in illegal alien sanctuary city policies – to command an immigration enforcement program that entails federal agents working with local police departments on cases involving illegal aliens.

Calling the immigration system “fundamentally broken,” President Barack Obama last week called for Congress to take up reform legislation. The president will have a serious battle on his hands in Congress — immigration has been a polarizing issue in America.

As President Barack Obama renews his call for a comprehensive approach to addressing illegal immigration, Americans are about equally divided -- 50% to 45% -- over whether the government\'s main focus should be on halting the flow of illegal immigrants coming into the U.S., or on developing a plan to deal with those already here.

The illegal immigrants \"in Arizona are coming to Utah because of Arizona\'s law,\" said Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clinton. \"They\'re moving to Colorado and Idaho. We\'re going to see an influx of people here within the next 30 to 60 days.\" That influx has Ray worried because it could mean a greater drain on Utah\'s resources. Utahns will pay for those who go to emergency rooms for health problems without insurance. More children could enter the school system. Utah schools are required to educate everyone whether they are here legally or not, he said.

As Arizona\'s new immigration law pushes the issue into the national spotlight, decades-old arguments over government policy, economic needs and human rights are being raised in a politicized confrontation over what it means to be an American.

After all, Police Chief Chris Burbank — with Mayor Ralph Becker’s blessing — excoriates the Grand Canyon State measure as “evil” and “racial profiling.” Before Congress last month, he accused a conservative cadre of Utah legislators of using “racist rhetoric” to enact an “obvious xenophobic agenda.” Invited back to Washington last week, Burbank called President Barack Obama’s immigration address “spot on,” adding that overzealous state leaders don’t share the sanctity of civil rights.

Advocates demanding stricter rules against illegal immigration -- including those backing Arizona\'s new law clamping down on undocumented immigrants -- have long argued that state lawmakers have been forced to act because of Congress\'s reluctance to take the lead.

Denver, 1 jul (EFE).- El gobernador de Utah, Gary Herbert, convocó hoy a un \"diálogo comunitario\" sobre inmigración a la vez que lamentó que \"importantes grupos religiosos\", como los mormones se mantengan en silencio sobre el tema. \"Utah va a formular una ley propia para Utah, nacida de la misma frustración que dio origen a la ley (SB1070) de Arizona. En dos o tres semanas convocaremos a una coalición de las partes interesadas para hablar del difícil problema de inmigración\", dijo Herbert.

Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that he will convene an immigration summit by the end of the month with representatives of various Utah communities to try to tone down the heated rhetoric and reach some consensus on the divisive issue.

Gov. Gary Herbert announced Thursday that he will bring together Utahns with an interest in immigration for \"a frank and open discussion.\" Herbert made the announcement both on English and Spanish radio stations, first on \"The Doug Wright Show\" on KSL Radio and then on \"Pulso Latino\" on Spanish Radio Exitos.

President Barack Obama took time away from dealing with the Iraq war, the economy, and oil spill to address immigration reform Friday. Mr. Obama spoke to American University\'s School of International Service in Washington D.C.