http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/9618716/detail.html

Istook Takes Aim At Henry On Immigration

POSTED: 4:53 pm CDT August 2, 2006
UPDATED: 5:28 pm CDT August 2, 2006


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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Ernest Istook took aim at Gov. Brad Henry's immigration policies Wednesday, accusing the Democratic incumbent of not doing enough to fight illegal immigration and end public benefits for undocumented aliens.

Henry's spokesman, communications director Paul Sund, replied that delays in immigration reform policies are the fault of Istook and his colleagues in the GOP-controlled Congress. Istook is leaving his 5th Congressional District seat to run for governor.

"He talks a good game but he and his fellow politicians in Washington, D.C., have done zero on this issue," Sund said. "We were supposed to get a bill this year. But all Congress did was give us a lot of hot air and no results."

Istook, who has promised to make illegal immigration a key issue in the governor's race, said Henry has done little to crack down on illegal immigrants while governors in other states are taking sweeping action.

In Colorado on Monday, Gov. Bill Owens signed a law to deny public benefits and jobs to illegal immigrants. The legislation could force 1 million people receiving state and federal benefits to prove they are legal U.S. residents.

The new law is similar to one in Georgia that requires adults seeking many state-administered benefits to prove they are in the country legally. In Oklahoma, Republican state lawmakers unsuccessfully pushed immigration legislation this year to stop illegal immigrants from receiving tax-supported services.

In Ohio, Istook said media report indicate that local government crackdowns have caused many illegal immigrants to move to other states or back to their home country.

Istook said Henry has shown support for providing public benefits to illegal aliens, including legislation Henry signed three years ago that provides in-state tuition to the children of undocumented aliens.

"He won't lead our state in the right direction, but what's worse is that he wants to lead in the wrong direction," Istook said. Istook said he will push for repeal of the benefits and support making English the official language in the state as it is in 28 other states.

Sund has said Henry signed the immigrant tuition bill after it got bipartisan support in the Legislature. He said the idea of the measure was that children educated in Oklahoma public schools should not be punished because of the acts of their parents.

Sund said Henry has authorized Oklahoma Army National Guard troops to travel to border areas with Mexico to help guard against a wave of undocumented Latinos that have entered the country illegally in recent years.

He said the governor also has authorized the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to help federal authorities in the interdiction and apprehension of illegal aliens in the state.

"We are taking action in Oklahoma," Sund said. "The inaction on this issue is in Washington, D.C., with Congressmen Istook."