SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – A controversial state law dealing with immigration goes into effect Wednesday. The new law gives local police power to enforce federal immigration laws.
Some believe this law is Utah's solution to solving illegal immigration, but others believe the law simply gives officers legal authority to conduct racial profiling.
Many people said they're saddened by the move state lawmakers have taken. Senate Bill 81 passed last year and takes effect July 1st.
It gives law enforcement agencies the power to check citizenship status of people they stop, and then alert immigration officials of people who aren't documented.
So far police in places like Ogden, and West Valley said they'll support the law, but Salt Lake City officers and the Utah Highway Patrol both said they will not enforce it.
A lawsuit has been planned to challenge this new law, but so far it hasn't been filed.
