Lawyers challenge Utah immigrant law

SALT LAKE CITY, June 22 (UPI) -- Utah immigration attorneys say they plan to file a lawsuit challenging portions of the state's newly enacted immigration law.

The law doesn't take effect until July 1, but several members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association are already planning to test its constitutionality, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Monday.

Specifically, they contend that federal law supersedes aspects of the state statute, known as SB81, that require businesses with government contracts to use E-Verify and that set up new identity document laws. The attorneys also reportedly are seeking to overturn provisions that make it illegal to harbor undocumented immigrants and that govern local immigration law enforcement.

"SB81 will make it impossible for many people to obtain basic state identification," attorney Aaron Tarin told the Tribune.

"The rule of law needs to be applied, and the federal government caused this problem (of illegal immigration) and has not taken the necessary steps to fix it," countered Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, who co-sponsored the bill.

Barbara Szweda of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah told the newspaper the new law "shouldn't make people run. People just have to be careful and realize they have rights."