It’s hard to imagine two more different sheriffs than Nye County’s Tony DeMeo and Maricopa County, Ariz., law boss Joe Arpaio. Outside Pahrump, you probably haven’t heard much about DeMeo. But he made headlines last week by calling out Nye County tax assessor Shirley Matson for her racially charged comments about Latino construction workers.

On March 16, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) signed four immigration bills, which would, among other things, allow undocumented immigrants to work in the state and allow police to check the immigration status of people arrested for serious crimes. The bills were seen as an attempt to find a middle ground in the immigration debate.

While the Florida legislature considers tough, Arizona-style immigration bills, Arizona is stepping back from its stringent anti-immigrant stance. And Utah, among the most conservative states in the union, last week passed a law that would give many undocumented workers statewide legal residence, the first such measure in the U.S. GOP Gov. Gary Herbert signed the law despite a Utah tea party demand that he veto it.

With illegal immigration still making headlines in Arizona, a citizens advisory panel in Mesa is set to wade into the issue Wednesday as it considers the so-called Utah Compact policy statement.

The state of Utah has several immigration bills floating through its current legislative session. Many of these bills were hard-nosed SB1070 type bills. However, according to the Texas Observer, Utah’s legislators are searching a more sensible solution. Utah, “the reddest of the red states” according to the observer, has approved immigration legislation that the Observer claims could serve as a model for the rest of the nation. The Observer list five elements of the Utah legislation that make it model legislation for the country.

Reporting from Salt Lake City— President Obama\'s aides were flabbergasted. Here was Mark Shurtleff, the conservative Republican attorney general of deeply red Utah, explaining how he and other GOP officials had approved a statewide version of the immigration measures that the president and his progressive allies have long sought. \"You sued us on healthcare,\" Shurtleff recalls the aides saying during his meeting in Washington this month. \"How is it you did something differently on immigration?\"

In all, 60 chief executives of major Arizona corporations signed a letter to Senate President Russell Pearce, urging him to back off on another round of legislation aimed at curbing illegal immigration because it would further hurt Arizona businesses and our struggling economy. It was unprecedented. It was risky (given that those businesses could suffer a backlash from Arizona\'s anti-immigration populous). And, more than anything, it was effective.

The very red state of Utah surprised quite a few people this week when Republican Governor Gary Herbert signed into laws immigration bills considered liberal. Among the most controversial moves was allowing illegal immigrants to obtain legal residency through a two-year guest worker permit if a background check concludes the applicant has committed no serious crimes. But applicants that entered the country illegally would need to pay a fine of up to $2,500 for the worker pass.

Undocumented workers in Utah will be allowed to apply for temporary legal residency under legislation signed into law last week. HB 469, the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act, surprised politicians with its forward-thinking approach

SALT LAKE CITY — A majority of Utahns say they support the Utah Legislature\'s efforts to resolve immigration issues despite the likelihood that at least two recent bills may be deemed unconstitutional, according to a new Deseret News-KSL poll. Dan Jones & Associates found that 65 percent of Utahns supported the state\'s involvement in the immigration debate, which is also a controversial federal issue. The poll, conducted March 15-17, of 432 residents statewide, has a 4.75 percent margin of error.

Salt Lake County Republicans denounced Gov. Gary Herbert and GOP lawmakers for supporting a state-based guest-worker program, and other county parties may soon follow suit in expressing their displeasure. The Salt Lake County GOP actions represent just some of the resentment directed at elected officials by Republicans who feel betrayed by the passage of HB116, the guest-worker legislation.

he growth of the Latino vote in California should compel the state\'s Republican candidates to learn more about this growing demographic whose share of the statewide vote has consistently grown. In the case of the 2010 election, Latino voters cast 1.7 million votes statewide, an increase of 300,000 votes from the 2008 presidential election.

I appreciate the sincere efforts of Governor Gary Herbert and some Legislators to adopt humane solutions in the face of the federal government’s failure to act on immigration reform. Each Legislator’s desire to do what he or she felt was right under the circumstances was clear throughout the debate. I particularly respect Governor Herbert’s decision to sign several immigration bills in the face of extreme opposition.

Yapias was happy to see Utah support a guest worker program for the undocumented workers that reside in Utah (House Bill 116) but not as pleased with the governor signing House Bill 497, the Utah Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act. HB 497 will give law enforcement officials the ability to check the immigration status of individuals charged of a crime if they meet certain criteria.

I say require these 105,827 cheaters to apply through Nuevo Leon to be screened, background checked etc. before receiving a guest worker permit. Thanks to the wisdom of our founding fathers in establishing our magnificent Constitution, there are legitimate guidelines established whereby the law may be changed by the people. Illegal immigration coupled with subsequent amnesty are not the way to achieve change

A group of Utah County Republicans would like the county party to pass a resolution condemning the passage of a bill that creates a guest worker program for illegal immigrants in Utah, among other things. The resolution was discussed at the party\'s executive committee meeting Thursday night, and if passed, would put the county party on the opposite side of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.