OTOC keeps focus on immigration

omaha.com
By Roseann Moring
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Published Tuesday September 27, 2011

An Omaha faith-based group wants to keep opposition to an Arizona-like immigration law at the forefront of state legislators' minds, and it held a Monday night meeting to do so.

That and other immigration-related issues that come up in the next legislative session are likely to be familiar, said Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha and others. Potential bills include a repeal of the law that allows some people in the country illegally to receive in-state college tuition rates, and another attempt to allow state-funded prenatal care to illegal immigrants.

But "there's not a lot we can do on the state legislative level," he said, echoing other speakers who said immigration is an issue that must be resolved on the federal level.

A Nebraska legislative committee tabled an Arizona-style proposal, instead electing to conduct a study on the issue. It is likely to come up again in the next Legislature.

Arizona's controversial law gives state law enforcement broad power to seek out illegal immigrants. Much of it, however, has been blocked by a federal judge's injunction.

Monday's forum was organized by Omaha Together One Community, an interfaith group that mainly advocates for marginalized groups in Omaha.

Kathleen Grant, co-chairwoman of OTOC's action team, said the group plans to meet with senators who weren't at the meeting as part of a push to stave off an Arizona-like law, advocate for prenatal benefits for illegal immigrants and a few other legislative priorities.

"Very few people want to talk about how important our immigrants are," she said, but the group plans to bring the topic to the public anyway.

Addressing a crowd of about 450, speakers said immigration laws should become less restrictive. Some speakers shared their experiences with laws and policies.

Omaha resident Jorge Arteaga said his sister-in-law's deportation shows how immigration laws can split up families.

Even though Arteaga's brother and his sons consider the United States their home, they're thinking about returning to Mexico so their family can be reunited.

In the meantime, the family struggles, he said.

"My brother can only cook eggs, so I worry about my nephews' nutrition and health," he said, getting laughs from the audience.

Deputy Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said the department opposes an Arizona-like law because it would cost money locally and create distrust between police and the community.

He said the department's policy is to not check the identifications of witnesses or victims of crime. It does, however, check the immigration status of crime suspects and drivers who are pulled over.

If someone is walking down the street or is a passenger in a car, he said, "an Omaha police officer should not be coming up to you and asking for your identification."

Other speakers detailed studies that showed that immigrants who live and work in Nebraska contribute millions of dollars to its economy each year.

"Immigration is good to Nebraska, and Nebraska needs to be good to the immigrant families that are helping to shape the state," said Armando Salgado, the executive director of the Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1084, roseann.moring@owh.com

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110927/N ... 279914/843