Lawtonians sound off on Arizona immigration law
Posted: May 06, 2010 5:34 PM CDT
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Lawtonians sound off on Arizona immigration law
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LAWTON, Okla. – Arizona's new immigration law has been the topic of discussion across the country since being signed into law at the end of April, and Lawton residents too had an opinion on the controversial law.

The new law does not give law enforcement carte blanche to stop and question anyone they want, but it requires them to do so if there is a reason to suspect an individual is here illegally.

Everyone in Lawton seems to agree that, if someone from another country wants to come into the U.S. they should have the proper documentation.

"Too many illegals coming into the United States," said a Lawton resident.

That response was typical of most of the people 7News spoke with Thursday.

"We have that right to check ‘em," said Lawton Police Chief Ronnie Smith.

Oklahoma authorities do have that right, but only if they have probable cause, such as someone speeding or running a red light.

"You just don't go up to the house and knock on the door and say, ‘y'all illegals?' You just don't do it. It don't work that way," said Smith.

Because it could be perceived as racial profiling especially if an officer targets one nationality.

"Most of the time when we talk about the illegals, we're talking about the people from Mexico that have entered the United States illegally," said Smith.

Most Lawtonians that 7News spoke with agreed with Arizona's law and even wished Oklahoma would follow suit.

"We're only seven hours from the border. Absolutely. It's where the drugs are coming in," said another resident.

Even though Smith does not condone illegal immigration, he says he has learned from experience that immigration and customs enforcement or the ICE seldom responds to reports about individuals. He says they usually only haul away larger groups of illegal immigrants.

"If ICE says we're not coming down, we leave, and that's what's going to happen most of the time," said Smith.

Smith says if Oklahoma does put a similar law into effect, it is going to create problems.

"I guess if we had a law that said if you're illegal and we're going to put you in jail, we're going to fill the jails up and they're going to be more crowded than they are," said Smith.

Many local residents here are okay with that.

"I feel like we need to have some kind of control on the border because they do take other people's jobs over here," said another resident.

The residents' opinions reflect the results of the Talkback Texoma, survey last week on this topic. More than 80% agreed with the law. Smith says, to truly enforce the law, it is going to cost the government a lot of money not only to hire and train new personnel so they enforce the law, but also to house the illegal aliens arrested.

New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer has asked Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to hold off on implementing the immigration law for a year. He would like to give congress a year to draft up a federal plan for immigration reform.

http://www.kswo.com/global/story.asp?s=12442014