Immigration law in the United States generally includes the rights and obligations of persons who are not U.S. citizens to temporarily visit or more permanently reside in the U.S.—and for federal and state governments to enforce immigration laws regarding visitors and residents.
Most immigration law consists of federal statutes and regulations—but many state laws impact both legal and illegal immigrants—including employment checks, E-Verify, law enforcement, driver's license requirements, public benefits restrictions, and more.
In Utah, as in all states, immigration law is primarily governed by federal statutes and regulations, as the authority to regulate immigration is a federal power. This includes laws pertaining to visas, green cards, asylum, deportation, and citizenship. However, Utah has state laws that also affect immigrants. For example, Utah participates in the E-Verify program, which employers may use to verify the employment eligibility of new hires. The state has also enacted measures related to law enforcement, such as allowing local police to question individuals about their immigration status under certain circumstances. Additionally, Utah has its own requirements for driver's licenses and may impose restrictions on public benefits for non-citizens. It's important to note that while state laws can impact immigrants, they must not conflict with federal immigration laws and are often subject to legal challenges if they do.