Utah Bill Proposes Stricter Sentencing for Minor Offenses, Sparking Deportation Concerns
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — In a move poised to reverse a three-year-old legislation, Utah lawmakers are contemplating a bill that would streamline the deportation process for undocumented immigrants convicted of low-level crimes. The proposed change targets a 2019 law that aimed to protect noncitizens from deportation after being convicted of a misdemeanor by reducing the maximum sentence for a class A misdemeanor from 365 to 364 days. Under federal law, any undocumented immigrant receiving a sentence of at least one year can trigger deportation proceedings. The 2019 modification to the Utah criminal code was … Read more