Communities in the southern Salt Lake Valley have not asked their police officers to double as federal immigration agents -- yet.

The area's two most-populous cities, West Jordan and Sandy, remain undecided about whether they will adopt an optional provision of SB81, a state law that takes effect in July, and cross-deputize their police forces.

But South Jordan, Draper, Alta and the Salt Lake County sheriff-patrolled Riverton, Herriman, Bluffdale and White City won't be dispatching officers to check on residents' citizenship status.

"We don't have the manpower or the funds to be able to do that," said South Jordan Police Chief Lindsay Shepherd.

"With the economy the way it is, everyone is just scrimping to make sure we take care of our citizens," echoed Draper Police Chief Mac Connole. "To reach out and do what the federal government is supposed to do is just beyond us right now."

Cities are following the lead of Salt Lake City, which also plans to heed the mandatory provisions of SB81 but won't cross-deputize police to act as immigration agents.

In Utah's capital and other municipalities, officials worry that such a move could stifle emergency calls and witness statements from immigrant communities. And Latino advocates warn that cross-deputization could lead to racial profiling.

Police chiefs who are opting out also cite financial constraints. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pays for the training course, police departments have to cover officers' salaries and fill their shifts while they are away. Plus, enforcing immigration law could pile extra duties onto policing jobs that already have full plates.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office will be enforcing one of SB81's mandates: Determining the citizenship status of inmates booked into county jails.

"If you are arrested for an offense in Salt Lake County, it is highly likely that your immigration status will be checked," Sheriff Jim Winder said. "And if you are here illegally, you will be detained and deported."

But that's as far as the sheriff will go. Winder has no plans to take immigration enforcement onto the streets of Herriman, Bluffdale or any of the other communities his deputies patrol.

Police chiefs in Sandy and West Jordan said they are waiting for Utah's attorney general to establish a relationship with ICE before they decide whether to cross-train police officers.

"It's a little early to even decide on it," said West Jordan Sgt. Drew Sanders.

Several agencies are looking to a memorandum of understanding between the state and ICE to clarify how such a partnership would work.

"We don't even know what it looks like," said Sandy Police Chief Steve Chapman, who said his department is in "wait-and-see" mode.

But Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said last week there's no need to wait on him: Cities can draft their own agreements with ICE. His memorandum of understanding is intended to push more agencies to cross-deputize, but so far, none in Utah has committed to doing so.

Tribune reporters Jeremiah Stettler and Sheena McFarland contributed to this report.