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Sooner State Cracks Down on Illegal Immigrants
Posted: Feb 3, 2006, 08:28 PM PST

With so many folks out of work in the Sooner State, lawmakers are working on plans to target those who they say are taking jobs unfairly.

Today, officials announced a new bill that would penalize Oklahoma corporations that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

KTEN's Jocelyn Lockwood has the story.

Officials say there are nearly 85-thousand illegal immigrants in the state of Oklahoma.

It's a very reassuring number for businesses on the look out for cheap labor but a devastating one for folks out of work and desperately seeking a job.

The proposed bill will slap big corporations with fines if those at the top knowingly hire an illegal immigrant, a trend even smaller companies are picking up on.

"I know there are some contractors who are using them, and they'll go home for a while and come back, they have no trouble getting back," said Kenneth Tate, Owner of Tate Asphalt and Paving.

Tate says he refuses to hire illegal immigrants and considers it his duty to help fellow Americans find a job.

"Personally, I've got lots of people just begging for jobs, you know they say the unemployment rate is really low, but there's a lot of people who are desperate for work, and I've only got so much work," Tate said.

"Everybody should have the opportunity to work anywhere you know," said Jose Ajelo.

"I think everybody should have the opportunity to work, but i think companies should not let illegal immigrants come over and take up all our jobs," said Chance Burkhalter.

And, some say it's not only the fact they take jobs, but also their issues become rooted in society.

"I feel like being a United States citizen, that it's got a lot of responsibility to it and one of them is to protect our country, and i feel like illegal immigrants are looking or jobs but they also bring a lot of the problems with them, a lot of their issues, and they are a burden on society," Tate said.

The issue is double sided, some say they do recognize the fact that illegal immigrants fill jobs other won't and often do it for less.

Jocelyn Lockwood, KTEN News.