http://www.tulsaworld.com/OpinionStory. ... Hypea60530

By MIKE JONES Associate editor
8/20/2006

Immigration fuss produces a new buzz phrase
Buzzwords, hot-button issues, hype, spin. In U.S. politics there really is no new thing under the sun.

"No taxation without representation," "remember the Maine," "a chicken in every pot," "we have nothing to fear but fear itself," to recount only a few. All were rallying cries during times of crisis -- real or imagined. Most had political motives.

The Republican Party has trotted out two recent phrases, "Islamic fascisim" and "cut and run." On a recent Sunday morning TV news show, in a span of about two minutes, the national chairman of the Republican Party used "cut and run" (which is intended to be synonymous with coward and/or traitor) about 10 times while discussing Democratic candidates and the war in Iraq.

"Islamic fascism" is President Bush's new favorite buzz phrase to justify his war in Iraq and the Israelis' recent bout with Hezbollah. Syndicated columnist Georgie Anne Geyer did an excellent piece on last Wednesday's Oped Page of explaining and debunking that phrase.

The Democrats are not immune to such word construction -- anyone remember "it takes a village" or "two for the price of one?" But Democrats don't

seem to be as good at it or as prolific as Republicans. Democrats tend to make their buzzwords more universal, more touchy-feely. They don't want to offend.

The difference between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to hype is much like comedian George Carlin's hilarious description of the difference between football (Republicans) and baseball (Democrats).

There is, however, nothing funny about a recent trend that is going on nationwide and is surfacing in many the Tulsa World's letters to the editor.

Groups that claim to be standing up for the rights of Americans by taking on illegal immigration have started saying that Tulsa has become well known as a "sanctuary city." In other words, Tulsa is a safe place for illegal aliens.

What many of these writers either don't know or won't say is that "sanctuary city" is a term with a definite meaning. It has been made popular by anti-immigration groups with the help of Colorado Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo, who has parlayed his anti-immigration platform onto the national stage.

Basically, a "sanctuary city" formally passes an ordinance that forbids its law enforcement officers or city personnel to turn over illegal aliens to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Tancredo and others cite several cities that have done this, and there are a few, but many of the cities accused of becoming a sanctuary city are not. In fact, few cities are willing to flaunt federal law. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.

Despite what many letter writers and others say, Tulsa is not a sanctuary city.

All this came about a few weeks ago when Tulsa Police Chief Dave Been got at loggerheads with some anti-immigration groups over law enforcement.

Been told Tulsa World reporter Tom Droege that, like about 58 other cities, Tulsa police have a hands-off approach when it comes to dealing with illegal immigrants. He said his officers would cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in their roundups but would not get into the business of immigration enforcement.

That brought the wrath of the local anti-immigration group Immigration Reform for Oklahoma Now. IRON insisted, and even hand-delivered a document to Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, that Been be fired because he is "not enforcing all laws for all citizens."

Been then pointed out, correctly, that such demands make members of such groups sound like "bigots."

That further riled the group.

It was not long after that the term "sanctuary city" started cropping up in letters to the editor along with demands that Been be fired. Been has announced, before this latest fuss, that he will retire soon.

First District Rep. John Sullivan, who happens to be up for re-election this fall, waded into the fray by making such outlandish and inaccurate statements as: "It's very likely in Tulsa that if you're driving and are in a car accident and are hit by an illegal alien, the Tulsa Police Department would do nothing to the illegal alien."

Neither IRON nor the congressman were really listening to or interpreting accurately what Been actually said.

Been never said that an alien, illegal or not, would not be arrested if found to be breaking the law. Anyone who breaks a law and is caught is going to jail or at least pay a hefty fine.

The problems Tulsa police and most other departments around the country face are manpower, time, jail space and solving crimes.

Illegal aliens, most of whom are Hispanic, come from a country where the police are not your friend. They are distrustful and often afraid of the police. To solve crimes, many of which are committed in the Hispanic community by Hispanics against other Hispanics, the police need cooperation. That, by the way, is true in all parts of Tulsa. If overlooking a person's legal status is necessary in order to find out who committed, say, a murder, then Been thinks it is worth it. I agree.

Tulsa has another problem. There is no Immigration and Naturalization Service office in Tulsa. The nearest office is in Oklahoma City. It could take hours, if not days, to get some action on an illegal alien in Tulsa from the Okla homa City office. In the meantime, how would that murder investigation be coming along?

The INS also is understaffed and overworked. Officers from other cities report that trying to get some help from INS agents is a long, slow process.

In Sullivan's defense, he has been trying to get an INS office opened in Tulsa or the Tulsa area since he was first elected. He knows the problems that the local law enforcement agencies face and has tried to help. So, he should have known better than to say what he said. Again, it is an election year and the illegal immigration card is a nice play in Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, there is an undercurrent of bigotry, isolationism and xenophobia in the groups that claim to be trying to protect the U.S. against illegal aliens. Whether they like it or not, they risk wearing the tag of bigotry.

Chief Been was only being honest -- which is more than can be said for a lot of politicians cashing in on the fear of aliens. Been doesn't deserve the attacks.

Anyone who denies that there is a problem with illegal immigrants simply isn't paying attention. Solutions must be found.

But name-calling and making unsubstantiated claims -- such as "sanctuary city" -- are not constructive.

Buzzwords and hype have always been a part of American politics. It remains up to a fair-minded and informed electorate to separate the hype from the facts.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mike Jones 581-8332
mike.jones@tulsaworld.com