Immigration law's support shows strain
HB 1804: Dissent grows
Immigration law's support shows strain
By Devona Walker
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139
Published: December 3, 2007
As some consider fortifying the toughest immigration enforcement law in the nation, the base supporting the controversial measure appears to be fracturing.
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The ‘Son of HB 1804'
"Son of House Bill 1804” is a proposal that would bolster the existing law. Its centerpiece is a provision designating English as the official language of the state.
Rep. Randy Terrill, author of HB 1804, said his newest proposal also will allow law enforcement to seize the assets of those prosecuted under the statute. It also will likely include a "taxpayer transparency in education as it relates to illegal aliens” provision.
"How many illegal aliens are in what school districts? How much is it costing taxpayers and whether it is having an adverse effect on our ability to educate own American citizens' children,” said Terill, R-Moore. "That's money that can be used for teacher pay raises, capital improvements and any other reason as opposed to educating children who shouldn't be here in the first place.”
The most controversial provision would deny birth certificates to children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrant parents.
The federal government guarantees this right through the 14th Amendment. This provision would legally challenge the federal government's interpretation.
"I don't agree with the notion of birthright citizenship,” Terrill said. "That is my motive, that is why I am actively looking into it.”
That provision might not make it into proposed legislation, he concedes.
Support waning
The Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce has remained relatively neutral on Oklahoma's immigration law.
But it has since lost some of that neutrality.
"We never said we supported that bill,” said Mike Seney, senior vice president of operations for the State Chamber.
Immigration is a national policy debate that is being decided by an "Internet populace,” Seney said. "The two extremes are handling the debate, and the people in the middle are confused, wondering what is going on.”
The results of polls on immigration reflect the widespread sentiment that something needs to be done. But Seney, among others, doubts Oklahomans want to give state legislators the OK to openly defy federal laws.
"Nothing has been done for so long that this has become a bigger problem than it needs to be,” said Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan. "You have to draw the line somewhere. This legislation drew a line in the sand. It said, ‘No, this is where we stop.'
"At some point, we had to say, ‘Whose country is it?'”
But even Johnson says "the line was certainly drawn over there toward the edge.”
Johnson still supports HB 1804. But now he thinks the Legislature should consider a statute that softens the blow.
"Ninety-five percent of them are here for the right reasons. They are here to feed their children. I don't fault them for that,” Johnson said. "There really should be a way to expedite the process for them to become American citizens.”
Johnson said he would support legislation that offers temporary working permits, if illegal immigrants are in the process of becoming legal residents.
"When you pass legislation, it's kind of a black-and-white issue. But then, once it's passed, you start to see the faces of people,” Johnson said. "Then you go back and modify it.”
‘Groundswell of anger'
Armes also voted for HB 1804.
He thinks Oklahoma's expectations regarding immigration are pretty simple: They want to know who is coming into this country, that they are not criminals or drug smugglers and ultimately that they are paying taxes.
He feels HB 1804 has done more to divide the state than address those core concerns.
"In my mind, if you seize somebody's property, you better have a ... good reason. An outlaw is one thing, but not someone we've turned into an outlaw,” Armes said. "There's going to be a groundswell of anger from John Q. Public when they have to prove citizenship just to get a driver's license. What about the guy who pays good wages and still can't find workers?
"This is going to create a lot of anger, and it's not just going to be coming from those who are against illegal immigrants.”
At the state Department of Motor Vehicles on Monday, the line was not terribly long, but it was sluggish.
Mark Rogers, 47, born in Dodge City, Kan., had a birth certificate, marriage license and Social Security card in hand, and still he wasn't sure if he was adequately prepared.
"I work at a machine shop with a lot of Hispanic people. Whether they are legal or not, I don't know. But I do know they are all hard-working people,” Rogers said. "If the concern is illegal immigration, this is not going to get it done.
"I think this is a waste of time.”
Related Topics:
Domestic Policy, Social Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Immigration Policy, Immigration
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http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=281232471584382
Although the United States’ welfare rolls are already swollen, every year we import more people who wind up on public assistance: immigrants. Many immigrants are poor; indeed, that is why they come here. The immigrants we admit are much poorer than the native population and are increasing the size of our impoverished population. As a result, the share of immigrant households below the poverty line (18 percent) is much higher than the share of native households that are poor (11 percent)—nearly twice as high. And immigrant households are more likely to participate in practically every one of the major means-tested programs. Immigrant use of welfare programs (21 percent) is 43 percent higher than non-immigrants’ use (15 percent).1
Each year, state governments spend an estimated $11 billion to $22 billion to provide welfare to immigrants.(2)
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecenters7fd8
http://immigrationcounters.com/
So, if they were made "legal," would you shut up and accept them because they're no long illegals? I doubt it, because at the root of it is your xenophobia and fear of the unknown.
Come up with a solution that allows them to work here, start a process toward naturalization, and avoid disruption of the economy. Simple-sounding solutions are fine for those who are simple-minded, but they create twice as many problems as they solve.
Many Americans are busy shopping for clothes. The kids in this country want to work at Abercrombie or some other trendy store for $6 and do not want to do the dirty work.
Wait till this bill hurts Oklahoma's economy.
This bill is an embarrassment to American values and ideals.
Latino thugs indiscriminately murder blacks regardless of gang membership, genocidal purge aligns with radical Aztlan theology -
Prison Planet -
Paul Joseph Watson -
Racist Mexican gangs are indiscriminately targeting blacks who aren't even involved in gang culture, as part of an orchestrated ethnic cleansing program that is forcing black people to flee Los Angeles. The culprit of the carnage is the radical Neo-Nazi liberation theology known as La Raza, which calls for the extermination of all races in America besides Latinos, and is being bankrolled by some of the biggest Globalists in the U.S. Aztlan's goal, known as La Reconquista, is to cede and take over the entirety of the southern and western states by any means necessary and impose a Communist militant dictatorship. President Bush's blanket amnesty program goes a long way to helping the extremists achieve their aim.
If you disagree with Rep. Terrill, he treatens to have you audited. He reminds me of some one in the past, Joseph McCarthy.
I am not against LEGAL immigrants children becoming automatic US citizens, just folks who have come into this country illegally and I would be for an amendment changing the 14th Amendment to reflect this, but this has to be done on a national level. So contact your representatives if you feel this way also. Contact those who may run for federal seats in the next few years and see how they stand on it and let them know how you feel.
I am NOT a racist. I have said it before and I will say it again. If we do not close our borders we will be wipin' our weepin' eyes. All this negativity that we cannot close our borders, that we cannot enforce the immigration laws that are already on the books foretell the continue downfall of this nation.
They have this amnesty law that says illegals have to do this and illegals have to do that if the bill is passed, but there were things illegals were supposed to do under Reagan that were never enforced too.
If we could close our borders so at least a very few got into the country in the future and the ones who are waiting to get in LEGALLY to this country after crossing every t and dotting every i, then I might be for some type of legalization for ILLEGAL Immigrants. I really don't want them trotting back and forth across the border. I would rather they become citizens and we keep more illegals out.
It is a security feature. If any race be they Canadians or Mexicans or Chinese in through our ports can get in, then terroists can get in also.
Get in touch with your political representatives and tell them to secure the borders and change the 14th Amendment to get rid of the ANCHOR Baby liberality.
I don't believe that the chamber of commerce has changed its stance in the least. The Chamber in Phoenix consistently backs illegal immigrants rights (as if they should have any) since major corporations hire them at discounted wages.Guess who the members of the Phoenix Chamber represent? The big corporations. The Chamber of Commerce is not the working mans friend.
However I think that 1804 is one of the best bills passed by the Oklahoma Congress. These illegals have broken the law and arte still breaking the law. And all illegals should be deportedAnd as for getting a drivers licence what is the problem? Renew before it expires and you will have no problems.And Chris you are about as left wing as anyone I have seen in Oklahoma.
I have not spoken to anyone that is not for 1804
However I think that 1804 is one of the best bills passed by the Oklahoma Congress. These illegals have broken the law and arte still breaking the law. And all illegals should be deportedAnd as for getting a drivers licence what is the problem? Renew before it expires and you will have no problems.And Chris you are about as left wing as anyone I have seen in Oklahoma.
I have not spoken to anyone that is not for 1804