Thread: Activists wage last-minute battle against start of OK law

Activists wage last-minute battle against OK law
Tue October 30, 2007

In the final hours of October, the fight to block House Bill 1804 rages on.
On Wednesday, the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders will meet with U.S. District Judge James Payne to argue for a temporary injunction against HB 1804, largely considered one of the toughest immigration enforcement bills in the nation.

If they are unable to stop it, they have planned a silent protest for Thursday — the day the bulk of the bill will go into effect. Immediately after it goes into effect, the national coalition plans to request sanctuary status for Hispanic churches and homes, to stop what they perceive has been a legislative assault against their community.

The group also has asked for support from the White House. It seeks a moratorium on raids, arrests and deportation until "Congress assumes responsibility for immigration,â€

Immigration law will cost state more, critics say
by Janice Francis-Smith
The Journal Record October 30, 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s new immigration law is going to cost the state much more to enforce than illegal immigrants could ever have imposed on state coffers with their presence, said a pro-immigrant group gathered at the state Capitol on Monday. Groups opposing the new law plan to hold a rally on the south steps of the Capitol on Nov. 1.

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“I know HB 1804 was a popular law, but so was Prohibition,â€

Lawsuit will challenge tough new immigration law
By: Justin Juozapavicius (AP)
Posted: Oct 29, 2007
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Lawsuit will challenge tough new immigration law
TULSA — Attorneys will ask a federal judge Wednesday to put a hold on a new law that would crack down on illegal immigration in Oklahoma.

A federal lawsuit challenging the law, which goes into effect Thursday, was refiled last week. It added eight undocumented residents who plan to testify that they will face eviction from their landlords unless they provide legal identification, such as a social security card, as required by the new law.

The other plaintiffs include the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and two churches.

Last week, U.S. District Judge James H. Payne dismissed the plaintiff's first lawsuit, saying they could not prove the law damaged them. The hearing on the preliminary injunction is set before the same judge.

"If the judge does not do the preliminary injunction, here's a primary example of eight people who will be evicted," said Rohit Sharma, attorney for the plaintiffs.

Considered one of the toughest in the nation, House Bill 1804 creates barriers for undocumented immigrants to receive public benefits and jobs.

It also makes it illegal to transport or harbor illegal immigrants, making violations a felony punishable by a minimum of one year in prison or a $1,000 fine.

Sebastian Lantos, a court-certified Spanish interpreter and Tulsa community activist, says House Bill 1804 will cause the economy to suffer and further divide the community. Thousands of Hispanics already have left the city ahead of the new law taking effect.

"The worst thing to me is that we lost a sense of belonging to the city," Lantos said. "We see our neighbors leaving, we see the unfairness.

"The mentality of the community has to change," he said.

The author of the legislation, Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, said Monday he remained confident the bill will hold up in court.

"We're talking about a group of people who have had five or six months to plaintiff shop, forum shop and judge shop to find somebody who is sympathetic to their cause," Terrill said.

Last month, five Democratic state lawmakers asked Attorney General Drew Edmondson to clarify several provisions of the measure.

Because there were about two-dozen questions, an opinion from the office appears unlikely before Thursday.
http://hub.ou.edu/articles/article.php? ... =409528440

Instead of allowing those working toward citizenship to continue contributing to the state’s economy both as laborers and consumers, the state will be removing a segment of its work force and dumping those workers into an already overcrowded prison system until they can be deported, said opponents of the law. Furthermore, the state will soon have to address the fact that deportees often leave behind dependants of all ages who may or may not be U.S. citizens.

If one enters illegally, they cannot get citizenship, so working toward citizenship is BS.

[quote]"There are millions of lives that are on hold,â€

The time for this debate was prior to the passage of the bill in the Oklahoma Legislature. I am sure all of these points were made and vetted by that body.