Utah lawmaker says his proposed Arizona-style immigration bill will hold up in court

Utah lawmaker airs Arizona-style immigration bill

SALT LAKE CITY — A conservative Utah lawmaker says his proposed Arizona-style immigration bill would withstand any federal court challenges.

State Rep. Stephen Sandstrom’s bill had its first public hearing Wednesday. The measure contains several provisions nearly identical to those a federal judge blocked in Arizona before they could take effect last month.

That includes a requirement that police, while enforcing other laws, question people’s immigration status if officers have reasonable suspicion they’re in the country illegally.

A delegation of Utah lawmakers traveled to Arizona this summer to get advice on drafting the law. Tennessee legislators recently made a similar visit to Phoenix, and Colorado lawmakers are at the Arizona Capitol Wednesday to ask for advice on their own state proposal.