Utah lawmakers close to passing bill for faster deportation process, including for legal immigrants
Mar 7, 2025, 1:24 PM | Updated: 1:24 pm
FILE — Utah Capitol building. (Deseret News)
(Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate passed a new version of a bill that would open the door for a quicker, easier deportation process for some immigrants who’ve been found guilty and sentenced for certain crimes.
HB226, co-sponsored by Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, and Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, would increase the maximum sentence for certain class A misdemeanors in Utah from 364 to 365 days.
The bill also requires law enforcement to coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement if the person sentenced doesn’t have a legal status in the country.
Under federal law, immigrants are subject to immediate deportation if they are sentenced to serve at least one year in jail.
They also wouldn’t be able to stand before a federal immigration judge before being removed from the country, according to lawmakers who voted against the proposal on the Senate floor.
This means, under this legislation, Utah immigrants who are sentenced to at least one year in jail, would also be subject to a hasty deportation process — including those who have a legal status, like a visa or a green card.
Eight lawmakers voted against the proposal on the Senate floor, including two Republicans, Sen. Daniel Thatcher and Sen. Todd Weiler.
Thatcher argued the bill removed due process for immigrants subject to the hasty deportation proceedings. He also noted immigrants in the U.S. illegally can already be deported without charges being filed.
“This bill does not impact illegal immigrants in any way, shape or form,” Thatcher said.
McCay clarified to the Senate this bill only deals with certain misdemeanors that are crimes against other people. McCay also said this bill also does not rob people of due process because it only applies to people who have already been convicted.
“I don’t have a problem at all with people who have been convicted of crimes that are here either legally or illegally being notified that they are no longer welcome to be in the United States,” McCay said.
As of Friday afternoon, the bill still needs one last vote from the House to reach the governor, because it was substituted since the first time that body voted to advance it.
If the House passes the bill, it’s headed to the governor for approval or veto.
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