How can rules be enforced?
Police and district attorneys are looking at the state's new immigration proposal
Police and district attorneys look at immigration proposal

By Devona Walker
Published: October 14, 2007

From district attorneys to police chiefs across the state, law enforcement officers are worried about how to enforce one of the nation's toughest immigration bills.

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Officials say law enforcement does not have the training, manpower or financial resources to enforce HB 1804, scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1.

"It's all fine and good for the Legislature to say ‘We should kick them all out, or we should put up fences everywhere,' but it creates serious problems for us, the people who are responsible for enforcing it,” said Scott Rowland, Oklahoma County assistant district attorney.

As it stands, Rowland says his office is often called upon to make difficult sentence determinations because of immigration status.

For instance, deportation is often the penalty, when citizens committing similar crimes might be subject to a fine.

"So you have to make those decisions on an individual basis,” Rowland said. "Is this enough to uproot someone from their home and their family?”

Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, the co-author of HB 1804, suggests law enforcement follow the lead of the Tulsa County Sheriffs Department.

It is the only agency in the state that has had deputies go through a five week training course with the Department of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement division.

Tulsa has upwards of 30 deputies training to enforce immigration laws.

"It's the job of the legislature to make the law, and it's the job of the police to enforce the law,” Terrill said.

"Frankly, I find it troubling that law enforcement would be complaining about doing their job.”

Statewide concerns
About 30 police chiefs recently met at an Association of Police Chiefs function, many voicing similar concerns, according to Jim Cox, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Police Chiefs.

"I've heard expressions of concern from all over the state about how this is going to impact us,” Cox said. "Who is going to pay for it?”

Not going to enforce
"We're not going to enforce immigration laws. It's our opinion that it's a federal issue,” said Oklahoma City Police Chief William Citty. "If anyone is stopped on a felony or DUI, we will check their status. We will notify ICE if something needs to be investigated. But I don't have the manpower for this.”

Implementing HB 1804 could also create a legal vulnerability for the police department in terms of racial profiling, he said.

"We want people to report crimes. Right now, you have people in the Hispanic community so afraid of the police — maybe because they have family members who are illegal — they do not report crimes,” Citty said. "We still have a job to do; we don't want the Hispanic community afraid of us.”

In response, Terrill said law enforcement should spend more time and energy figuring out how to make the law work instead of talking about how it doesn't.

"My news flash for the police chief is that unlawful presence in this country is a crime. I would expect him to enforce all laws equally,” Terrill said. "Effectively what he is doing is creating a refuge policy, encouraging more to come here.”

Many questions
Since its passage, five legislators who voted for HB 1804 have questioned whether it is enforceable.

There also is a pending lawsuit questioning whether it conflicts with federal law and whether Oklahoma has the jurisdictional authority to enact immigration laws. And now, state law enforcement agencies say they are not prepared for implementing it.

However, Terrill remains firm. In fact, he said plans are already under way to create the "son of HB 1804,” legislation that would treat illegal immigrants as "human contraband.”

"This means anyone arrested could have their property seized, like during a drug arrest,” Terrill said. "That would go a long way to help pay for implementation.”


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Chief Citty should not only be fired, but should be arrested. This bill was passed and becomes LAW on Nov 1. Therefore he is violating his Oth of Office, Aiding and abedding Illegal Aliens, and obstructing justice. Since when do we allow our police dept to place themselves above the law? They are Civil Servants payed by OUR TAX DOLLARS. This has gone too far already
Chuck, Oklahoma City - Oct 22, 2007 at 9:02 am
pardon my english, but screw randy terrell. all he wants to do is come election time he wants to say look what i did. but he has no idea how to make it work
greg, stillwater - Oct 16, 2007 at 5:21 pm
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My apologies if I misread your posting. About our roads and bridges, it’s such a huge farce. In the 70’s we had a safety situation turned political and now our trucks are so dangerously overweight. They are crushing our roads and bridges. Then we have liars in office that constantly keep telling us that we need to keep building new roads instead of maintain what we have. Just like the I-40 crosstown bridge. If it’s truly that dangerous that we need to realign it, why aren’t the heavy trucks be routed off of it? Then add poor quality construction by contractors because they want job security and we have this ever snowballing mountain of debt going to our roads and bridges. We need to fire almost every politician and bureaucrat in office. Bring trucks back to safe weights and make sure we maintain what we have instead of build more, more, more.
Richard, Oklahoma City - Oct 15, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Wow Todd.. You have been in Norman longer than me because I've only been on the planet for 35 years so you've got me beat by a few years. It's a real shame that Norman and more specifically Oklahoma harbors fools like you. I do not now nor have I attended a church since I was a child (by choice). I am not working you're absolutely correct but that's because I am retired at the grand old age of 35. I started, ran and sold a very successful business far beyond your comprehension and now spend my time playing, traveling and spending time with my three extremely intelligent children. My ethnicity and those I've dated/married are really none of your business but just to quench your thirst for blood, I'm native American mixed with a healthy dose of Irish but the Irish is back long before the 1700's when I found the first traces of my ancestors in the US. I also have a great (many times over) grandmother who walked from Ohio to California at the age of 68 to join her family that migrated to the Jamestown area for the Gold Rush. We have however been in Oklahoma since the 1800's although from time to time we have moved throughout various parts of the United States depending on the particular generation and what occupation they were in at the same time. I do not come from a long line of the wealthy elite in the U.S. but my family has always taken care of their families, paid their bills and most have abided by the law. I too graduated from OU with a masters in accountancy and a minor in small business administration. I volunteer at various charities in Norman including donating time, money and goods to ensure that the place I call home is a better place. I also coach little league for all 3 of my kids in multiple sports. I can assure you that my rational is not in the minority. Most people that are US citizens do not appreciate their tax money being spent on people that are here illegally and do not care to contribute to our society. I have always maintained that there are people that are here that wish to be here legally and do contribute but they still need to do things the right way. Rewards should not be given to anyone breaking the law under any circumstances and that's exactly what it is. If they want to give prenatal care to illegal aliens, they should not give their children instant resident status and be able to deport them back to their country of origin when both mother and child are stable. That would also save money because the welfare system would not have to support them for the next 18 years. It truly scares me that you could be my neighbor although I seriously doubt that you could afford to live in my neighborhood. You should like the frustrated 50 year old man who lives in his mommy's basement and ends up going on a mass killing spree because someone disagreed with you on the big bad Internet. But, you did actually sound rational in your last post. Where you said you don't mind them getting something after tax payers have been taken care of. That's the problem here. Tax payers aren't taken care of before illegals and that's where I have a problem.
Jan, Norman - Oct 15, 2007 at 12:26 pm
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Todd, I believe this discussion is about the police and how they are worried about enforcing the new law and how it will be a strain on them. What the article is not about is Randy Terrill and the job he is doing. If it is the law and it is upheld it needs to be enforced. Now I did misspell one word on purpose and I knew you would find it. I was waiting for anybody to point it out and it was YOU. It is your favorite Google search. Oh, and I tried to go back under my rock but your daddy and little brother were under there, and they’re waiting on you.
Steve, OK - Oct 15, 2007 at 12:22 pm
nice case richard. but i can point outmore of this "t was never our governments’ responsibility to subsidize laziness. My family will do anything to be on welfare so they can stay at home and watch their favorite educational channel called ‘Jerry Springer’. They work so hard at not working." than illegal immigrants. i have never said i was for illegal's or the breaking of any law. i just believe that they have a place. like after getting tax payers like you and I healthcare. or how about safer roads, and better public schools. why cant randy terrill the "original stirrer" to just obtain one campaign promise? why does he think this can help our state more than any other? i think he does it because it stirs alot of people up to get him re-elected. well only 12 thousand poeple in the moore norman area. how sad is that. thanks richard
Randy, Moore - Oct 15, 2007 at 11:53 am
wow steve. since you never asked a question you never got an answer. as you can tell in my post..i asked you..so..."Well Todd you just answered my question. You do not have the intellect to debate what this forum is about. So why don't you come on over to my trailer, its 2 doors down from your's, and get your momma and sister. They were good last night, but they are really getting on my nerves now, just like you. So if you don't have anything intelligent to add to the debate over this article why don't you go back to surfing your favorite subject, bestiality. " so stevie..looking back through the previous comments i noticed you had none. so little troll-boy...go back under your rock. i mean...trailer..the very fact that you give me a spelling and grammer test is a joke. your a troll.
Randy, Moore - Oct 15, 2007 at 11:43 am
You sure are the world's biggest communist aren't you Cale? In one side of your mouth your slam me about being pro-birth and then you call yourself pro-life. Well you can’t have life without a birth can you? It’s physically impossible. Then you rant about its okay for illegals to break the law because they don’t have $5,000. Since when are breaking laws permissible because you’re poor? It sounds one sided to me. What if I robbed an armored car because my family was hungry? I’m only breaking the law to benefit my family. Yes totally eliminate welfare on the government level. It was never our governments’ responsibility to subsidize laziness. My family will do anything to be on welfare so they can stay at home and watch their favorite educational channel called ‘Jerry Springer’. They work so hard at not working. When the government steals my money with taxation without representation, they still my right to give my money to whom I chose. Not whom I subsidize by force. Where’s your outcry in ‘choice’ about that? You won’t because you believe in stealing other peoples’ money for ‘your’ cause and you don’t want other people having a choice. Instead of our soldiers dying in Iraq for Cheney, how about we invade Mexico like we did before and won on Feb 2nd and overthrow their government? That way its citizens can have a decent life instead of crippling our country by give them everything for free at my cost. I’m sure your anti-history and don’t remember how our welfare system was forbidden from checking immigration status and forced taxpayers to give them money do you?
Richard, Oklahoma City - Oct 15, 2007 at 11:06 am
Well Todd you just answered my question. You do not have the intellect to debate what this forum is about. So why don't you come on over to my trailer, its 2 doors down from your's, and get your momma and sister. They were good last night, but they are really getting on my nerves now, just like you. So if you don't have anything intelligent to add to the debate over this article why don't you go back to surfing your favorite subject, bestiality.
Steve, OK - Oct 15, 2007 at 11:01 am
steve...go ask troy state how osu is...and then go back to your trailer. you and jan might be a love match in the making. just tell her where your trailer park is.
Randy, Moore - Oct 15, 2007 at 10:35 am
Todd I can tell by your grammar and typing skills that you may have went to OU but it wasn't for an education. Maybe if you would have let your knuckles drag some you could have picked up book somewhere and got an education.
Steve, OK - Oct 15, 2007 at 10:14 am
cale..shes just old and thinks she knows everything. your earlier post on why illegals get the jobs, versus the lazy people taking umemployeement was dead on. im sure old jan has never ever seen a illegal. she just goes to church, gets mad about the non-issue subject of the week, comes here and takes the holyier than thou attitude. people like jan is the reason we get people like randy the bigot terrill in office. shes uneducated, husband left her for a 20 year old mexican, live by herself, kids in jail, televangical watching fossil. her breed is quickly dieing out. sad but true point will be the folks that get elected that have to go clean up 40 years of crap on the books at the capitol. i think all current elected officials should be sued for theft, wasting time, wasting tax dollars, and making all oklahomans live in a smaller box.
Randy, Moore - Oct 15, 2007 at 9:29 am
There are apparently two Earl's in Oklahoma City. The last comment was not mine. I've met Chief Citty and know his position is appointed, not elected, and I respect the man, however I strongly disagree with his views on this issue. The OCPD is overworked and I think he's merely trying to keep his officers from having yet more work to do. But he should listen to his field troops, much of the work they are doing now is directly or indirectly related to illegal immigrants. For those who favor open or loose borders, please point out another country, any country, on this planet that has had the same kind of open borders. It'd be nice to compare where those countries are now with where we are going. Personally I'd like to see us adopt Mexico's immigration policies.
Earl, Oklahoma City - Oct 15, 2007 at 9:25 am
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The police chief is not an elected position.
Cale, oklahoma city - Oct 15, 2007 at 9:09 am
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jan..ive been in norman since 1970. my family immigrated from italy in 1905. dont even begin to call norman your town. im family was here illigally far before yours. i went to school at OU so i guess i am igrorant. you hardon for illegals makes me laugh...did you lose your job flipping burgers to a mexican? or did the pool boy stop seeing your daughter? and since you speak for so many illegals , how many do you harbour? oyeah i forgot your unemployeed. your view of reality is so far off based its pathetic. my bet is that your about 70, by yourself(go figure), and a very lonely person that attended a baptist church. i say that because you sound just like a randy terrill clone. a know-nothing, do-nothing, thrying to tell everyone else what to do. and if you hate handouts so much...send back in all your medicaid, and s.s checks like my family did. and by the way...we are all legal now just like alot of other folks will be in 10 years. and your son randy is still just another idiot on the short bus. so JAN....get out of my town. not only haqve i been here longer...ive paid more taxes, done more volunteer work, gave more to chairity, breath less air, fart less, raised better kids, less auto crashes, less stupidity. knuckledragging neadertals like you jan are the ones that need to be deported.
Randy, Moore - Oct 15, 2007 at 8:52 am
Bill Citty is clearly not in line with main stream working class people. Who is he to say the OKC police is not going to enforce the laws the leglistator passes. Bill wake up and smell the coffee, you are not doing what the majority of okc residence want........... are you running for office...........
Earl, Oklahoma City - Oct 15, 2007 at 1:16 am
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"We're not going to enforce immigration laws. It's our opinion that it's a federal issue,” said Oklahoma City Police Chief William Citty. Hmmm...what about laws concerning burglary, theft, prostitution, child abuse, spousal abuse, traffic violations, etc? Might as well not enforce any of those laws either. This is a State law NOT a Federal Law. It is the police chief's sworn duty to enforce the laws of this state. If he has no desire to do so, it is time for him to be replaced with someone who will. And as for the Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney's remarks, there is nothing difficult about this. If the penalty is deportation, then you deport. This law (or any other law) is NOT tearing up families, it is the illegal actions of these people that is doing that. If you want to keep your family together, DON'T BREAK THE LAW.
Larry, Oklahoma City - Oct 15, 2007 at 12:27 am
Todd with all due respect.. STFU! I don't know what your hard on with me is but I despise the fact that you live anywhere near me in my beloved town. You're obviously ignorant and perhaps harboring an illegal or two or perhaps you're illegal yourself. With that said.. Cale, who cares what it costs to become legal. Many of the illegals who are here working send the majority of their pay back to wherever they came from to support their families. If they can do that they can save to pay for the legal immigration. To whatever person said that we wouldn't have anyone to build our roads, our shopping malls, etc. B.S.! You know what will happen if the illegals are forced out? The American person will get the job. Will they work for pennies on the dollar? NO! Will that force costs of everything to rise? YES! But, you know what, people will now be able to afford more because they will actually be able to work now rather than lose their job to people who are willing to work for minimal money and who don't contribute to the economy as those of us that are legally here do. I could care less who or what Randy Terill is. I know what's right and what's wrong and it's wrong that people come into this country illegally and drain the economy both through government handouts and working below the standard rate of pay.
Jan, Norman - Oct 14, 2007 at 9:42 pm
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paige is just pissed because she has to take care of 4 dead beats. terrill is still an american taliban. and the 10k that put him in office are communists.
Randy, Moore - Oct 14, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Would that be John Rawls' theory of justice or John Locke's theory?
Cale, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 8:42 pm
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Its also must feel like a slap in the face to every American that came here properly through the right channels. Who did take the citezen oath. Imagine how shallow it must make them feel. I dont doubt it makes them somehow feel inferior as well. What about everyone who abides by the law. Arent they entitled to justice?
Paige, Verden - Oct 14, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Jesus was asked once about taxes, he first asked for a coin then asked whos name was upon it. Then exclaimed (render to ceasar, what is ceasars) I dont know your perception but mine is wherever you are abide by the laws set in that society. So you keep making your retoric remarks, to me thats part of the trouble to. I try to live by our laws set. I have recieved citations i respected the system. As a human is that to much for any other human to ask of? Everyone needs to think outside there own box. Look at the whole picture. Globalization of America is on its way in, its coming over this immigration trouble, only because of selective production of our law.
Paige, Verden - Oct 14, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Uh??????????????
Cale, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 8:09 pm
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Again i am for anyone coming to America. I do however have a problem with anyone who comes here with blatent disregard to our own rule of Law. Then to wave another countrys flag in our streets demanding the same rights. That shouldnt ever be. I respect everyone, i see no color in a person only shades. Everyone does have the same rights following they are following the same rule of Law to get it. Starting out illegally here is a hasbeen of our past. This day and time we have to have civility. To attain it and keep it Rule of Law has to be followed. Illegal is illegal. I think we should look back to when we first started in the legislature and not only confiscate the workers goods. The employers of these iillegals should be stiffly fined when records show they hired them and employed them. They are just as guilty of abuse of the system as the illegal. Worse really because if you take away the work. They have no reason to not wait to do it the legal way. So actually maybe we should reflect of public officials who arent doing there jobs. Companys who are useing this slave labor tactics.
Paige, Verden - Oct 14, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Ladonna the workers are here. They always have been. I know i have 4 people right now living in my home that could be working. They arent because the pay is so low. Illegals will work for 1970s wages. I know my job itself hasnt seen a wage increase in almost 10yrs. I see more and more everyday, i am a taxpayer, i deserve my Constitutional rights more than any NON-AMERICAN. My Sovrienty is being trampled on i feel and has been for years now. The lawmakers have made thier changes to fight this problem. Getting the shopowners to realize that there cheap labors leaving and pay increases for positions is inevitable. I am suprised no civil militias not offered thier services. Its also sad to hear the only Law enforcement agency is Tulsa that is working to get ready for it to take affect. Some it seems obvious arent into following the oath they took when sworn in. I also dont think the workmanship on the roads is worthy. I travel alot and have seen places get worked a bridge say. Then 6m later see the bridge getting totally replaced. I dont think that was good quality work. The previous 6m before. Thats happened in more than one spot across this great State.
Paige, Verden - Oct 14, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Paige, Verden - Oct 14, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Any question about who's voting for these people? Ye Gods!
Cale, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 7:31 pm
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I have open arms to anyone who wants to come to AMERICA (THE RIGHT WAY) through our legal imagration system. Those that took it upon themselves to enter because they wouldnt wait to do it legal. They are human contraband this day and age. If your for letting anyone come here without the proper forms of ID after years of fighting this thing called (war on Terror) you people are iether insane or a bloomin idiot. A terrorist could simply remove his turbon and walk across whistling and blow up your street! people that want to help should maybe go to Mexico and help them rebuild there homeland? Why back illegals that are overwhelmingly ubusing our health system the drive uninsured, keep wages low because everyone knoqws you can exploit illegals as laborors. The system cannot support us all. If my country couldnt support itself, i wouldnt leave it. I would become active to change it. We all need to understand the rules of law are the greatest at stake. If one law on the books is disregarded the whole system to me is at stake. Laws are not made to be broken, they are made for a civil society to follow. If that ever excapes us, chaotic times will be. We dont need another civil cleansing. We need Americans to agree simply that if its law it has to be followed and enforced.
Paige, Verden - Oct 14, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I would think any law enforcement officer who blatently remarks they cant enforce the law (any) law. I think they should loose there position/retirement. That is a direct deriliction of duties. I also think any officer observed by a tax paying law abiding citizen. I feel the officer in question should be fined accordingly with the a misdemeanor charge. Maybe after we weed the police that think they can dictate which laws they want to enforce. We will finally get others on the job that will enforce the laws as they took an oath to do so. Afterall they arent lawmakers, they are law enforcers.Imagine if this new bill passes we will see the illegals leave in droves. You got our votes!
Paige, Verden - Oct 14, 2007 at 7:14 pm
It costs over $5000 to become a U.S. citizen. Anyone have that kind of cash laying around? "Totally eliminate welfare" Quite frankly Richard, you don't know what you are talking about. You are probably pro-birth too aren't you? You're damned sure not pro life. I can read that in your post. What are the children of these people supposed to do? Oh, that's right, they shouldn't have had children. Hell, let them go hungry like the thousands of children do every night in Oklahoma. They're not your responsibility are they. Of course not! We have the entire country of Iraq to rebuild at a cost in the billions. Those people ARE our responsibility aren't they? Why should we care about our own citizens and the people in our own hemisphere (neighbors) when we can dump billions of dollars into the oil companies pockets. When Jefferson wrote that WE are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, he wasn't talking about WE as americans but WE as humans. Emma Lazarus did not write "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free" and $5000. This country was built on the backs of the immigrant and now Terrill would like to stand at the gate and say "sorry folks, the parks closed, the moose out front should have told you." But you'll vote for him and/or the others that appeal to your knee-jerk reaction that different is bad and the bad men are stealing our women and jobs won't you? CHRISTIAN, bah! PRO-LIFE, bunk. You don't get to use the Bible like it is a buffet. I'm sorry, I had "thou shall not kill" for lunch I think For dinner I'll have the "eye for an eye" with the "I am not my brother's keeper." Then go back to bed pull the covers over your head because a politician got your vote by telling you the boogy-man is gonna get you.
Cale, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 6:58 pm
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well fred....gotebo...in my nieghborhhod there are about 30 houses being worked on. id say the work crews are split down the middle. the white people are mostly on meth. and the mexicans do far superior work. id take a mexican crew any day over a crew of your relatives. silly meth head, knuckledraggin, inbreds.
Randy, Moore - Oct 14, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Yes, how did we ever get this far without this imported slave class? Ask builders how it would go? How about asking the Americans that used to be able to support a family doing the building trades but no longer can because of this imported slave class....
Fred, Gotebo - Oct 14, 2007 at 5:45 pm
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The old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We should've been enforcing our laws from the get go and now it's a giant nightmare. Now people who've broken our laws now demands rights to which they have no right to do. The only rights illegals have is to return home and come back legally. Who will work those jobs if we enforce our laws? Totally eliminate welfare and put those lazy bums to work. You'll see how motivated they are when the government quits subsidizing their laziness and they're hungry.
Richard, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 at 5:20 pm
randy terrills own largest donor calls him "in idiot" almost everyday. and i love how terrill gets away with posting hundred of illegal signs every two years. why doesnt the city go after these litter thugs? he and his campaign staff lie to cops about it aswell. way to go alva-boy.
Randy, Moore - Oct 14, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I see both sides of the issue but I do not agree with anything Randy Terrril says because his motivation is hatred of anyone darker than mayonaise.I just have some questions for you. Who will fix the roads in Oklahoma? Who will shop at all the new stores that have built in South Oklahoma City in recent years when a large number of Mexicans move from Oklahoma? Who will rent all of your junky rent houses? Who will buy all your wonderful works of art you sell at garage sales? Who will work in the sanitation department and all the other dirty jobs that these people are willing to do? Oh yeah I forget there are Oklahomans just lining up to do these jobs with all of the training they have.Let them make the saddles and the boots and work at Remington park cleaning the horse stalls, a job with room and board. Profiling will happen it already has happened to my family. My daughter,which is a Sunday School Teacher at a large church in the metro had her baby with her recently at a McDonalds in the metro when an older white man started staring at them like he wanted to kill them. My 6 ft 2 Mexican husband just happened to be in the neighborhood which took care of that.My children were born and raised in the US, went to private schools, vote Republican, love our country. My son in law was confronted by an angry woman at a Grocery store on the Northwest side of Okc recently. She screamed at him did he have permission to be in the US. My son in law is from NEW Mexico, owns his own business, doesn't even speak Spanish etc etc. Oklahoma is known for its racist, redneck ways and we are getting pretty tired of it. I agree that a change needs to be made on the FEDERAL level then let Oklahomans abide by the laws of our land whatever decision is made instead of trying to be our own little white island.
ladonna - Oct 14, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I've also known Randy Terrill since he was a 15 year-old debater from Alva. He was an idiot then and I see he has not grown out of it. Keep in mind Randy, some judges are not "mommy" judges, some of us flow the round. Think about exactly who the "judges" are you are picking up!
Cale, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 4:51 pm
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Michael is right. Terrill and others are simply "showboating." These people find a hot-button issue that they can use to rally people behind simple, secondary issues that sound intuitively correct. It's like the "three strikes law in California. Ask the California criminal justice system how that has worked out for them. People are going to prison for life for a 3rd non-violent offense while there is no space for violent offenders. The result is not pretty. This is also a thinly veiled, acceptable form of racism that once again "plays to the choir" of the uninformed and unenlightend. Most people don't want to take the time to look beneath what looks good on the surface. This issue is not about the money because whatever meger amount of tax dollars go to them will more than be made up in the MUCH higher prices this country will pay for goods and services that these people provide much less expensively. Ask any builder, farmer, hotel chain, feed lot-packing plant, maintenence-janitorial, etc company what the dollar impact will be on them. That will simply get passed on to the consumer. Ask police departments and DA's which other crimes need to get put on the back burner both time wise and dollar wise while they are busy with immigration. The whole thing is an unfunded mandate from a legislature that uses the short sightedness of their constituency to get votes. If most of the legislature worked 1/10th as hard every day as most of the "illegals" do, the legislative session would be done in 2 weeks every year instead of 5 months plus "special sessions." And like Margaret, I also find it laughable that the state founded on illegal immigration now has the nation's toughest law. It's a shame that the native americans didn't have Randy Terrill going to bat for them. And if that isn't enough, grade school children re-inact the land run every April. I often wonder why Germany doesn't celebrate "Holacaust Day." They could have the children dress up like Nazis, imagine the fun. If these same people were interested in "rule of law," they would have already brought charges against Bush and Co. for their raping of the constitution. Oh yeah, now I remember, those guys are all "Christian" white guys that speak in the same vernacular as the ditto heads.
Cale, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 4:40 pm
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Do we not have the right to know who and what kind of people that we allow into this country? To limit the numbers? I too feel sorry for a number of these people but at the same time we have rules that must be followed. By these people not following the rules and just jumping into the US is a slap in the face to all those that did things the right way. Why does this always turn into a racial issue when it has nothing to do with race and everything to do with the rule of law.
Fred, Gotebo - Oct 14, 2007 at 1:59 pm
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sounds like jan is riding shotgun on terrills short bus.
Randy, Moore - Oct 14, 2007 at 1:31 pm
All this showboating about "illegals" is the perfect trick play from the Republican handbook. As we say around here, nothing more than a dog and pony show. Last election cycle it was gay "marriage", before that it was "gun control", and now it is "kick the illegals out". You people that vote for these guys are being played like a two dollar fiddle and you fall for it every time. I agree, we must do something about border control, but as a person that confesses to be a Christian, I must also balance that belief with love, compassion, and humility. Not a bleeding heart liberal, just a human being who thinks all human beings should be helped when they are down. As I say in many of my posts, the answer to most of our problems can be very easily and quickly answered if we just ask "what would Jesus have me do?". I submit that Jesus would NOT be talking about "human contraband" and denying neo natal care for "illegals". Practice what you preach on Sunday mornings Oklahoma.
Michael, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 at 1:23 pm
I think the biggest issue is that this is a desicion the federal government should make, not the state. Oklahoma has one the highest rates of child abuse, why dont we spend our resources on this then trying to enforce a law that the police force doesn't have the resources to. Please people of oklahoma quit electing these bigoted politicians with a holier than you complex. Oh and the department of homeland security is a joke, and this even proves it more that they are spending their time training police officers to deport illegals instead of looking for terrorist threats. Terrill and the politicians that wrote and voted for this bill are a joke. Once again the party of inclusion is writing their bigotry into our government.
blake, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Jan, the comments by Chief Citty do not necessarily reflect those of the street cops of the OCPD. The ones I know strongly favor enforcing immigration laws. Sandy, a point of order, you do not pay their salary, nor do I. We pay taxes and the City uses some of that revenue to pay their salaries. That's a big difference. I agree with your view on enforcement though and I think the concerns you and others are voicing will prove to be unfounded. The overwhelming majority of (legal) Americans favor strict enforcement of our immigration laws and an administrator like the police chief won't be able to do much more than delay the inevitable a little while longer.
Earl, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 at 12:49 pm
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It's great that the people in the Sooner (here illegally) state are so negative about illegal immigrants. All of you are living on land taken from the Indians. Oh well that was LEGAL. Give me a break. Some of you should read the gospel.
Margaret, Holdenville - Oct 14, 2007 at 12:38 pm
SANDY...get a life!!!! I pay your salary or get out. Are you kidding me. OKC police and other agencys are fighting a uphill battle with this one...I agree, be legal or get out. But it's the senate and Congress that need to enforce this bill.
Dave, Midwest City - Oct 14, 2007 at 12:36 pm
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If the OKC Police Department does not enforce this law then I would darn well like to see every criminal that has their conviction overturned for selective prosecution. They have to enforce all laws on the books or enforce none of them. It's that simple.
Jan, Norman - Oct 14, 2007 at 11:16 am
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watch the police department get sued daily because they will have to resort to harrassing anyone the looks mexican. terrills driving the dummy bus and we are all screwed. thanks terrill....
Randy, Moore - Oct 14, 2007 at 10:17 am
Sandy, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 at 10:10 am
Sandy, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 at 10:10 am
If these Oklahoma City officers do NOT enforce this law, they do NOT need to be in law!! Get out so we can get officers that enforce HC 1804! I am paying your salary, perform or get out!!
Sandy, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 at 10:10 am
I would love to see a list of any other laws the OKC police are not going to enforce as well.
Dick, Aurelia - Oct 14, 2007 at 10:02 am
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Having lived in Mexico for the past 6 1/2 years, I can speak about this. No they should not be there, yes they have extreme poverty but the Mexican Gov. should fix this. You cannot go more that 25 miles into the interior without a proper visa, you cannot earn money from a job in Mexico. If a company sends you down to work from another country you must be paid from the other country, you cannot take a job from a native. Well the illegals are taking jobs from our natives, us. Yes many jobs are not wanted to take by U.S. citizens but if they want to eat and have a place to stay Work!! This has nothing to do with Christianity, I'm a Missionary. It has to deal with the law. Either change the law or out they go.
Don, Morelia, Mx - Oct 14, 2007 at 8:51 am
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talk about nut cases... what is the purpose in bringing up being a christian or not ... you selective use christianity in such a convoluted manner. A drunk would be forgiven by Jesus.. but render unto Caesar what is Caesers... Don't any of you idiots "get it". People are here illegaly... get it? Believe me.. if you go to any other country illegaly, you will not get health care, food stamps, or any other assistance other than assistance getting you out of their country. Oh.. and if you look up the word contraband: anything prohibited by law from being imported or exported. Not the word the representative was looking for, I hope, but the idea is right on. And should anyone be denied medical care, probably not, but if you are so concerned about neo-natal care then I assume you would be glad to ante up your visa to pay for it. Uh-huh.. that's what I thought. But you don't mind having me pay for it do you?
Mike, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2007 at 2:34 am
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I agree... who voted for Terrill? This guy is a right wing, bible thumping, holier than thou nutcase. He professes to be a "Christian", yet there is nothing in his actions or words that even remotely resembles true Christianity. Would Jesus have denied neo-natal care for a pregnant "illegal" (as Terrill has advoacted)? Would Jesus propose treating any human being as "contraband"? Please, please, please Moore voters - please vote this hypocrite out of office, before he embarrases us anymore. And please...true Christians (and believers of other faiths), please start speaking out against these politicians who claim to represent you. Ask yourself honestly, what would Jesus have me do? (I assure you, the answer is not to treat another human being as "contraband")
Michael, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 at 12:27 am
Randy Terrill is a whack job. Human contraband? Let's say you are a bus driver. Should your home be seized because you did not check the immigration status of a passenger? Somebody, somewhere with some sanity needs to stand up to him. We got a lot of sheep in Oklahoma. We got some hyenas like Terrill. What we need are some lions.
Steve, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2007 at 8:26 am