Sandy • They arrived with steely resolve, some wearing blue T-shirts festooned with buttons that implored their fellow Republican delegates to honor the Constitution and reject Utah’s guest-worker law.

They left with smiles and a sense of confidence that their desire to repeal HB116 through a resolution was on track and that those who supported the guest-worker measure needed to follow their lead either in a special session or during the next legislative session.

It was the immigration showdown at the Republican State Party Convention, and Saturday’s vote on the resolution was close enough that Convention Chairwoman Enid Greene Mickelsen needed to call for a standing count among the 1,572 delegates remaining at the end of a long day to determine the resolution’s outcome.

"This is Rocky Ridge," Mickelsen said. "This is the hardest pull on our journey today. I know emotions are running high."

So was tension.

While the votes were being counted, Sens. Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch spoke to the somewhat distracted crowd that had slogged through the entire morning of parliamentary procedures in the South Towne Expo Center and the passage of the party’s constitution and bylaws and anxiously awaited to hear the final vote.

Mickelsen then made the announcement. The resolution passed 833-739.

Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, who had battled against HB116, grinned uncontrollably when he saw Brandon Beckham, one of the key leaders in the move to repeal the guest-worker bill. They hugged and slapped each other on the back. Arturo Morales-LLan, who gave an impassioned speech on the resolution at the Utah County Republican Convention, stood nearby and pumped his fist in the air.

Beckham, who came in third out of three Saturday in his bid to be elected state vice chairman, said it was clear what it all meant.

"It’s a campaign issue for the rest of the year and into next year," he said. "They [lawmakers] know they have to repeal the bill. The delegates have spoken."

Gov. Gary Herbert and most Utah lawmakers — all 75 state House members and half of the 29 senators — are up for election next year. And they need support of delegates to make it onto the ballot.

The guest-worker law signed by Herbert in March seeks a federal waiver to allow the state to grant visas to undocumented immigrants in Utah. It is scheduled to take effect July 2013, but could go online sooner if the federal government were to grant it permission.

However, critics say HB116 is unconstitutional and the federal government would not approve the program and would only end up in a lawsuit against the state. The law essentially allows the state to fine undocumented workers $2,500 for being in the state without papers and $1,000 for overstaying a visa. It also requires them to pass background checks before being issued a visa, which would be good for two years.

Herbert, who addressed a half-empty convention center well after the resolution had passed, disagreed with the idea that the issue is divisive for the majority Republican Party or that the resolution was some sort of battle for the party’s heart and soul.

Instead, he said the core trait of the party is its ability to discuss complicated issues.

"I’m here to tell you that this is the heart and soul of the Republican Party’s process and I’m proud to be a part of that process," Herbert said. "The heart and soul of the Republican Party is alive and well."