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David Stanley Ford

Legislator plans new reforms
Legislator plans new reforms

By Michael McNutt    Comments Comment on this article360
Published: November 8, 2007

The author of the state's immigration bill said Wednesday he will file legislation seeking to make English the official language in Oklahoma and to give law officers the right to seize assets, such as a vehicle or a home, when used to transport or house illegal immigrants.

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Rep. Randy Terrill said the measure, which he dubbed "son of 1804 bill” in reference to his House Bill 1804 that won overwhelming approval in both chambers of the Legislature this year, also would require school districts to provide a more accurate accounting of how many children who are here illegally attend their schools.

Estimates are children who are here illegally cost the state's schools about $160 million a year, he said. He thinks the cost is much higher.

Charging ahead
Terrill, R-Moore, said he wants to crack down on so-called anchor babies, children whose mothers come to the United States to give birth. The U.S. Constitution states children born in this country are U.S. citizens.

About 30 states have passed legislation making English the official language, and the timing is right in Oklahoma, he said.

"That is some unfinished business that we need to take care of here with regard to an overall real meaningful immigration reform package,” Terrill said as he announced his ideas to members of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee.

"You have my commitment on this,” Terrill said. "I'm never going to give up on this issue. We're going to continue to charge ahead.”

His idea to deal with babies born to illegal immigrants would be for Oklahoma to refuse to issue a birth certificate, he said. Instead, the state would send an acknowledgement of birth to the U.S. embassy or consulate of the parents' nation of origin requesting a birth certificate.

"That would set up the legal challenge because you would have unlawfully present, foreign national parents who would be suing the state of Oklahoma to try to get a birth certificate for a child who they would be claiming is a U.S. citizen,” he said.

Law enforcement changes
Terrill's legislation also calls for providing financial incentives to local police and sheriff departments to send officers to get federal training on immigration issues, he said. Tulsa County is the only county in the state that has a partnership with the U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement to track the immigration status of people arrested for crimes.

That office "is the model for how our other state and local law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma ought to be enforcing federal immigration law,” he said.

Terrill said he has received calls from legislators in about 12 states interested in writing similar legislation to HB 1804, which makes it criminal to transport, hire, harbor, house or conceal illegal immigrants. It also requires local law enforcement agencies to check immigration status. The law, which went into effect last week, effectively ends state-sponsored benefits for those who cannot prove they are legally in the United States.

He predicted as many as 30 states will consider similar legislation during the next few months.

Terrill said he also wants to introduce legislation to reverse a policy that allows illegal immigrant mothers to receive state and federally subsidized prenatal care in Oklahoma.

"I'm a conservative pro-life Republican, I believe that life begins in conceptions,” Terrill said. "And I believe that there are certain basic human rights that come in with personhood, the biggest one being the protection of your right to life. But that is a much different concept than being a legal U.S. citizen.”

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David Stanley Ford





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NYC,NY(R)

LATINO,AFRICAN,HISPANIC ALIENS DO NOT BELONG IN THE U.S.A.
ANCHORBABY,ANCHORSENIORS

DEPORT!DEPORT!DEPORT!NOW!

TRUE PATRIOTS UNITE!MULTIPLE PHONE,FAX,EMAIL US CONGRESS

VOID 1986,94(D)ILLEGAL ALIEN AMNESTY!

BEWARE!OF ILLEGAL LEGAL ALIENS WITH FAKE AMERICAN 1ST NAMES

LATINO,AFRICAN,HISPANIC ALIENS DO NOT BELONG IN THE U.S.A.

DEPORT!DEPORT!DEPORT!NOW!
V, BROOKLYN - Nov 15, 2007 at 3:52 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore V
V in Brooklyn,

You might want to turn down the volume on your tinfoil hat before receiving incoming radio frequencies. The microwave radiation can cause brain damage. Also, I think the Ku Klux Klan meeting you were looking for is at the OTHER end of the hall.
Patrick, Seattle - Nov 12, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I love it when when race gets brought up when laws are mentioned as if certain ethnic groups are exempt from laws. Why have laws if no one is going to follow them? Might as well have anarchy if laws aren't going to be followed. Maybe that's the true agenda.
J.T.(I), Norman - Nov 12, 2007 at 10:08 am
V,Brooklyn- What do you mean by true patriots unite? We are all of different ethnic backgrounds. No one here is "pure bread"! This is all ridiculous, everyone deserves the right to live here.
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 11, 2007 at 9:16 am
HISPANIC,AFRICAN,LATINO ALIENS DO NOT BELONG IN THE U.S.A.
ANCHORBABYS,ANCHORSENIORS

DEPORT!DEPORT!DEPORT!NOW!

TRUE PATRIOTS UNITE!MULTIPLE PHONE,FAX,EMAIL CONGRESS!

VOID 1986,94(D)ILLEGAL ALIEN AMNESTY!NOW!

BEWARE!OF ILLEGAL LEGAL ALIENS WITH FAKE AMERICAN 1STNAMES

LATINO,AFRICAN,HISPANIC ALIENS DO NOT BELONG IN THE U.S.A. NYC,NY(R)

V, BROOKLYN - Nov 11, 2007 at 8:22 am
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Ignore V
Rudy,
Have you ever heard the phrase: "It's not what you say, but how you say it"? If you read what I said closely, you'll notice that I was careful to say "we are not Nazi Germany." History has already happened. We are not Germany, and will not become Germany. But if you closely study the history of every fascist regime--ranging from Pinochet and Suharto to Franco and Mussolini--there is literally a blueprint that dictators use to rise to power. Despite the cultural and historical differences between these countries and ours, there are many direct comparisons in government activity that are nearly identical in each. I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through so much to cross an invisible line that a lot of rich, slave-owning white men drew up not that long ago. I understand your frustrations at those who have "jumped the line." But why do we have "a line" in the first place? A line to cross a completely fictitious boundary that is maintained through physical violence? This world is getting too crowded for any ideas of cultural homogeneity, and those that think it is possible are willing to inflict great suffering upon other human beings to see their vision become a reality. It becomes clear, that when it comes to ideas of cultural identity and race, that in this country--ideas are more important than actual people. What you did is essentially play by "all the rules" that other, self-entitled people put in place to dissuade you from coming here. I ask this question: What sort of country are we building where setting foot on its land without prior notification is a crime? Wouldn't that mean that anyone coming here for "freedom" automatically becomes a criminal? Whatever happened to "give me your tired, your poor, your hungry..."? It's frightening that you would mention a nationalist party arising in this country, because I believe it's already happening all around us. All it's going to take is one more pressure point and the system locks in place. It's high time we give a hard look in the mirror as a country, and stop just giving lip service to the ideals it was supposedly founded upon. It is impossible to take away freedoms in the name of "freedom." George Orwell had a word for just that: doublespeak. The Natives called it "speaking with a forked tongue." Either way, as I mentioned at the beginning, "it's not what you say, but how you say it."
Patrick, Seattle - Nov 9, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Rudy, I completely respect the fact that you took the time to become a legal citizen. I am not saying that coming over illegally is not a crime but I am saying that they are going about this the wrong way.
I belive it will only cause problems.
And I am totally against making Oklahoma an English only state! That is ridiculous. I love all languages and honestly I dont think people speaking other languages in this state affects anyone in a negative way. I have a translation/interpretation degree in Spanish and I am proud to be able to speak Spanish. I spend time working with children whos parents only speak spanish and helping them with their english comprehension. I also work as a resp therapist at a hospital and I work with hispanics there on a daily basis. Like i said this is turning into bigger trouble than there needs to be
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 9, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Janice is tied up on the other article. They will seize property and fine up to $1,000 and charge with a felony anyone that harbors, transports, or employs an illegal immigrant and yes the Mexicans are being singled out because that is where a majority of the illegal immigrants are from. As I stated in the other article and it goes along with what you all say. I DONT CONSIDER MEXICO FOREIGN nor CANADA for that matter! Oh well, that will make an interesting legal argument.
Harvey, Oklahoma City - Nov 9, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Janice is tied up on the other article. They will seize property and fine up to $1,000 and charge with a felony anyone that harbors, transports, or employs an illegal immigrant and yes the Mexicans are being singled out because that is where a majority of the illegal immigrants are from. As I stated in the other article and it goes along with what you all say. I DONT CONSIDER MEXICO FOREIGN nor CANADA for that matter! Oh well, that will make an interesting legal argument.
Harvey, Oklahoma City - Nov 9, 2007 at 4:41 pm

Patrick,
Those harboring Jews were not fined...they were sent to camps to die along with the Jews and others horrible deaths. Are you comparing a fine or the seizing of an asset to being murdered? Where is your sense of proportion? I'm a legal naturalized United States Citizen from Latin America and I don't have a problem with these proposals. You don't like the term
"Illegal immigration" as if there is no difference between legal and illegal immigration. I waited 18 years to become a citizen of the United States. We did it through legal methods. Should our patience’s and perseverance be diluted by those that won't do it legally? Keep in mind that there are plenty of us out here that did it the hard way and that resent it when others get to cut to the front of the line and make it even harder for us. If this country does not get control of the illegal immigration issue we will certainly see the rise of a nationalist party. You can only push people so far too fast. Eventually they will rise to protect what they see as the transfiguration of the country they love and are yes...willing to die for.

Sincerely,
Rudy Garcia
Proud Brown American, Latin American, Hispanic American or what ever American is politically correct for this decade. I prefer simply....American. No strings attached. We broke those at the border.
Rudy, Hopewell - Nov 9, 2007 at 4:31 pm
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Ignore Rudy
By the way David- you can not say that the majority of the "American People" agree with Janice, because we are only the US, Mexico is in America, and to get more technical there is central and south america and we are all considered "American People"
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 9, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Patrick- Well said!!! The way people are acting seems to me to be similar to the days of segregation! Except its the latinos not the blacks. This whole process will leed to nothing more than hate crimes. We are all alike. This is diversity people deal with it, its the way the world works. It is everywhere. Seriously I believe if there wasnt so much falsified propaganda on the television people wouldnt be half as judgemental as they are in todays world. But seriously if you walk on the wrong side of town and someone doesnt like you because of the way you look, you are more than likely going to get shot.
The media keeps throughing around the word mexico and mexicans. Honestly if they think the problem is with drug trafficing and people crossing the border and committing crimes, then they need to take their time and money and do something about that....... But there is no reason to cause so much unnecessary drama here. They are scaring people, uprooting them from their home and it is terrible. We are not leaving a very good name for ourselves as Oklahomans or better yet Americans!!!! Technically 99% of our population is immigrants, our ancestors came here long ago and stole the land from the native americans. Wake up and do something about it!!!!
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 9, 2007 at 4:19 pm
People, wake up! I seriously hope there are at least enough U.S. citizens left who have seriously and thoroughly studied the Holocaust to realize where this is going. How is this any different than Hitler's orders that those harboring Jews would be prosecuted? The fact that they are not white? It's amazing how many people get angry when any mention of Nazi Germany gets brought up, but <i>actions speak louder than words</i>. While we are not Nazi Germany, and never will be, you can bet when we start going rapidly in a fascist direction like this--we might start looking like an American version. This is nothing but corn-fed, down-home American racism. We constantly use ridiculous terms like "illegal immigration," forgetting the most important fact of all: WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS. If we are to take this to a logical step, then technically we should kick every white person out of this country and let the Native Americans have their country back.
Patrick, Seattle - Nov 9, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Brook; Well said! I agree with you 100%.
Elvia, Oklahoma - Nov 9, 2007 at 11:49 am
Doug- I completely agree with you. What ever happened to hospitality and treating others how we would want to be treated. Our politicians and governor are not setting a good example for our children. To them it is nothing but hate, segregation and racism. Our world is made of different people diversity is everywhere. You can not keep people from being different. And what happened to freedom of speech?
I believe that means not only we are free to say what we want but also in what language we want to say it in.
I am totally against HB 1804 in all aspects, and also against making oklahoma an english only state. I dont think it is possible or right. Spanish is not the only other language that is spoken in oklahoma.
This is becoming ridiculous.
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 9, 2007 at 10:56 am
Glenna, Oklahoma City - Nov 9, 2007 at 8:16 am
Janice: I agree with you 100 percent and so does the majority of the American people.
Glenna, Oklahoma City - Nov 9, 2007 at 8:16 am
Having lived in California for the last 15 years I have personally seen the major issues that illegal immigration will bring to communities.
Let me give you a glimpse of what Oklahoma is in for if this bill fails or is overturned by a liberal court.
It begins by overloading your schools with students whose parents don’t pay the property taxes to support them. My kids have had to share a teacher and classroom with several students that spoke very little to no English. I just wished one day we could get a real estimate of how many students are in our American schools illegally.
Next and the most deadly is destruction of proper medical care for legal citizens. This is typically in areas where large groups of illegal’s live and abuse the emergency care system with non-emergency visits.
I was recently visiting a local Wal-mart I’ve gone to for years. They made several announcements in Spanish only. The feeling is that English is becoming the second language in California.
We actually have brick and mortar stores in California that sell food items but don’t accept cash or credit only tax payer supported California WIC cards. As you could guess a vast amount of the signs for the stores are in Spanish.
It was just 1994 that the citizens of California passed their own version of HB1804 (prop187). It passed with over 70% of the vote. We thought this would stop the poor invasion from the south but unfortunately politics and liberalism (9th circuit court) prevented it. The overwhelming vote of the people was overturned.
It’s estimated that in California it costs the taxpayers 11 billion dollars a year to support the illegal’s. That’s money that should be going to pay for our elderly and services for poor Americans not criminals from other countries.
I personally believe that the issue in California has progressed to the point where overwhelming numbers of illegal’s vote in our elections, which if it continues will certainly prevent the passing of illegal immigration laws and bankrupt the state within the next two years.
Your doing fine Oklahoma, keep up the fight till I get back there.
Don’t let California’s demise be yours!!
steve, orange - Nov 9, 2007 at 2:34 am
While some lawmakers enhance their political careers and all too many of us declare "it is about time," Oklahoma demonstrates to the nation that our emerging reputation as a friendly and caring people is undeserved. Yessiree, let's just toss 'em out or at least make life so hard they'll want to leave. Let's make sure these flagrant lawbreakers suffer the consequences of their decision to live and work in Oklahoma. Just let 'em suffer (and maybe infect others) because they're afraid to seek medical help when needed. This law is nothing to be proud of - just an unfortunate artifact of our frontier mentality.
Concerned 2, Oklahoma City - Nov 8, 2007 at 11:45 pm
About time for what? To completely seclude almost fifty percent of our population from the rest of this state. No one said that you had to learn another language. Are you affected by a different language every day? Is it impossible for you to function or live your normal life if there is another language spoken in this state. I think not!
There are many languages spoken all over the world, I think this is a bit too much!
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 8, 2007 at 10:04 pm
All I want to say is IT IS ABOUT TIME!
Teresa, Bethany - Nov 8, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Im so glad that you think that about me. However I am a highly educated respiratory therapist. I also work with kids in an ESL program<English as a Second Language>. I do have a three year old daughter and I am continuing my education working on my masters degree in bio sciences. And yes I do this all by myself, work two jobs raise a little girl and go to school. Quit judging and stereotyping.
You are not any better than anyone else. Thanks for your opinion though
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 8, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Brooke: Well, I am so glad that you educated me on that issue. Why, I was so uneducated about all of that. So sorry. NOT. For your information, I do not care one bit how you feel about my comments. You are probably one of the fat, lazy bums living off the welfare system. Get up off your fat butt and go feed your kids their food stamp food.
Glenna, Oklahoma City - Nov 8, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Jonathon: That is the most ignorant comment I have ever heard. Your comment,"Birth control is not culturally accepted in the hispanic community." Well, is keeping your zipper zipped or your legs crossed culturally accepted in the hispanic community. Just because birth control is not culturally accepted in the hispanic community, does not mean that I should be held responsible for their offsring. That is not culturally accepted in my community. You are probably one of those lazy bums that is living off the welfare system. Those of you that are so eager to support other people's children, then I say, do it, and let the ones that don't feel that way alone.
Glenna, Oklahoma City - Nov 8, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Janice, the "illegal immigrants" they are reffering to in HB 1804 are all Hispanics from different hispanic countries are not only from Mexico.That is a terrible generalization and misconception made by uneducated people. I dont think that you should be making uneducated remarks about other people. Dont judge those who need help from the state, one day that might bite you in the butt and you might end up in a similar situation. I find a lot of the comments you make ridiculous. The truth hurts? right
Brooke, Yukon - Nov 8, 2007 at 6:48 pm

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