Thread: Oklahoma Hispanic community said wary of new law

Hispanic community said wary of new law

By DEON HAMPTON World Staff Writer
10/1/2007

A half or more of the Hispanic population in Tulsa will move by November, a speaker said Sunday during a meeting held to discuss the state's new immigration reform law.

"That's being conservative," the Rev. Michael Feliciano of Redemptive Word Ministries told a crowd of about 150 people -- most of whom were Hispanic.

"100 percent of everyone I have talked to are planning to leave," he said.

The gathering at the Green Country Event Center, 12000 E. 31st St., was held to discuss the effects of Oklahoma House Bill 1804.

The law, which takes effect Nov. 1, requires law enforcement agencies to check the immigration status of people arrested for felonies.

"There are so many misconceptions about this law," Feliciano said.

One is that Hispanics will be targeted and purposely stopped by Tulsa police and sheriff's deputies without cause.

However, officers say that isn't true.

"People won't be pulled over for their race or religion," said Sgt. William Lewis of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.

The law isn't meant to be a blanket sweep for Hispanics, Lewis said.

"We make a concerted effort to comply with the law," he said.

Lewis referenced a recent incident in which a Hispanic needed assistance from Tulsa police, and although it was discovered that the person was an illegal immigrant, officers let him go because no felonious activity was suspected, Lewis said.

Thousands of people were invited to Sunday's meeting, but once they heard officers would be present, they didn't come, organizers said.

"Fear is running rampant," Feliciano said.

One is that Hispanics will be targeted and purposely stopped by Tulsa police and sheriff's deputies without cause.

Gee, who do you think could have possibly started this rumor? We all know who these crap OBL agencies are!

Maybe if cities, towns and states keep going with new laws, and ICE keeps cracking down, and employers start getting caught with their ILLEGALS, the fear will become great enough to chase them all back where they came from.

A half or more of the Hispanic population in Tulsa will move by November, a speaker said Sunday during a meeting held to discuss the state's new immigration reform law.

Attrition through enforcement- who says it doesn't work? [/quote]

Hey!!! why worry....unless your illegal or doing something illegal

Wow......all of this fear and flight over simple laws and enforcement. What's all the fuss?

"We make a concerted effort to comply with the law," he said.

Exactly. And that's the fundamental difference between the American citizen and illegal aliens. We make a concerted effort to follow the laws in place, illegal aliens do not.

Well, all I can say is....ONLY ONE MORE MONTH TO GO!!!!!!!