http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7053459...

Sen. Orrin Hatch joined 11 other GOP senators in a letter Friday criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for saying legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants would be a boon to the economy.

However, Hatch himself has previously called for ways to legalize aliens short of giving them amnesty and has pushed bills to repeal sanctions against employers who hire illegal workers, as well as bills to allow illegal immigrants to receive federal loans and work-study assistance for college.

However, Hatch and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, more recently have been under attack by Utah conservatives who say they sometimes are too liberal. The critics include several conservatives who are challenging Bennett in his re-election bid next year and have said he is not tough enough on illegal immigration.

Amid that, Hatch joined the group of GOP senators in their letter to Napolitano that criticized a speech where she said, "Requiring illegal immigrants to register to earn legal status … will strengthen our economy as these immigrants become full-paying taxpayers."