Immigration

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is waging a furious legal fight against a patchwork of state laws targeting illegal immigrants, and on Monday the Supreme Court has its first chance to jump into the fray.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Utah's immigration enforcement law, arguing that it usurps federal authority and could potentially lead to the harassment and detention of American citizens and authorized visitors.

"A patchwork of immigration laws is not the answer and will only create further problems in our immigration system," said Attorney General Eric Holder in a statement. "The federal government is the chief enforcer of immigration laws ... it is clearly unconstitutional for a state to set its own immigration policy."

HELENA, Mont. -- A one-size-fits-all proposal to give border agents control over environmental laws is facing critics who argue it doesn't make sense in places like Montana's Glacier National Park.

ATLANTA -- A group of Mexican senators want to meet with state legislators in Utah and other states that have enacted strict laws targeting illegal immigration.

SALT LAKE CITY -- As more states consider stronger immigration laws, political, business and religious leaders from throughout the West examined the economic impact of enforcement measures and guest-worker programs during a summit Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It was just another schoolyard basketball game until a group of Hispanic seventh-graders defeated a group of boys from Alabama.

MIAMI — Rick Perry is calling his Republican rivals “heartless” and using ethnically charged language to defend moderate parts of his immigration record. That strategy may endear the Texas governor to Hispanics and their allies even as it angers others the presidential candidate must woo to win the nomination for president.