Last-minute battle targets restrictions

In the final hours of October, the fight to block House Bill 1804 rages on.

On Wednesday, the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders will meet with U.S. District Judge James Payne to argue for a temporary injunction against HB 1804, largely considered one of the toughest immigration enforcement bills in the nation.

If they are unable to stop it, they have planned a silent protest for Thursday — the day the bulk of the bill will go into effect. Immediately after it goes into effect, the national coalition plans to request sanctuary status for Hispanic churches and homes, to stop what they perceive has been a legislative assault against their community.

The group also has asked for support from the White House. It seeks a moratorium on raids, arrests and deportation until "Congress assumes responsibility for immigration,” said the coalition's state coordinator, Victor Orta of Tulsa.

Hispanic community leaders, state Rep. Al Lindley, an immigration attorney and a Catholic priest held a news conference Monday announcing the planned protest of the pending implementation of HB 1804. They also spoke of the reasons they oppose the law.

Orta says thousands of children are caught crossing the border illegally and are deported. About 20 percent of those children have no adult supervision when they attempt to cross into the United States. Illegal crossings have opened those children up to a number of exploitations — including rape, murder and separation from their families.

However, he thinks enforcement is onl