Suspects may need to prove citizenship

TULSA — The Tulsa City Council will consider a resolution today that would direct police to require people arrested on felony complaints to prove citizenship.

Police would be expected to report those in custody who cannot prove citizenship to the appropriate federal agency. The resolution comes after the governor signed House Bill 1804, which requires jailers to determine whether foreign nationals are here lawfully.

"It's frustrating that once again municipal governments are left on the front lines without the support that we need at the federal level,” Mayor Kathy Taylor said Monday. "If they commit a felony, we want to know whether they've committed other felonies.”

The resolution could pass as early as Thursday, and enforcement could soon follow, though the new state law doesn't go into effect until Nov. 1.

Taylor acknowledged the resolution will put a strain on her police department but said the city was left with no choice.

Charlie Price, spokesman for Attorney General Drew Edmondson, said his office is still reviewing the requirements for police departments under the new law.

Taylor said if someone is detained because of questionable immigration status, they can file a complaint with the city's Human Rights Department.

The Rev. Victor Orta II, pastor of People of God Baptist Church in Tulsa and president of the American Dream Coalition, said this resolution does spread fear. And he also doesn't think police will check the status of those arrested only on felony complaints.

"It adds to the present turmoil,” Orta said. "There's a lot of unrest in the immigrant community. There is a real fear among them because they stand to lose a lot.”

Tulsa police Cpl. Bryan Bryden, of the department's planning and research division, said it's up to the chief whether officers will follow the resolution.

"If the city council told us to do it, and the mayor's office told us to do it, we're probably going to follow through with that,” he said.

Councilman John Eagleton said he has asked people for reasons why he should be against it. He hasn't heard one, he said.