Thread: Invader's bottomless pockets: law suit against OK refiled

Opponents renew legal fight over immigration law
By Michele Kraak
Staff Writer
MCT Direct

Some companies rely on cheap labor from illegal immigrants, a practice that the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 seeks to eliminate. The act is scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1.
The lawsuit against House Bill 1804 that a federal judge dismissed was scheduled to be re-filed Wednesday afternoon.

A Tulsa Hispanic group, a Mexican restaurant, a church and six unnamed plaintiffs filed the lawsuit Oct. 15. The lawsuit stated the law had already caused harm and would continue to cause harm after it goes into effect Nov. 1.

Judge James H. Payne dismissed the charges, saying the law could not have caused any harm because it has not gone into effect yet and that the harm it was alleged to cause after Nov. 1 is too speculative.

The statute, called the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007, makes it a felony for someone to knowingly transport or harbor illegal aliens and requires all businesses, companies and agencies to determine the citizenship status of all employees hired on or after Nov. 1. Police also must determine the citizenship status of anyone arrested for a felony or for driving under the influence.

An attorney for the plaintiffs said changes were made to the petition and he thinks it will be successful this time.

“The judge wanted us to make some changes to the petition,â€

Plaintiff in lawsuit wants out
Reported by: Noelle Newton
Noelle Newton Last Update: 7:11 pm

(OWASSO, Okla.) October 29 - Just days before a judge decides whether to put a hold on House Bill 1804 and its immigration reforms, a plaintiff in the lawsuit to stop the bill says there's been a big mistake.

Mexico Lindo restaurant manager Jose Ramirez was named in a lawsuit filed last week. But he says he never wanted to be a part of it.

Ramirez says someone called him from Conlamic, the group behind the lawsuit. The person asked if House Bill 1804 had an impact on his business and he said maybe. But he says now his business is really hurting because his name on this lawsuit.

Empty tables are what put Ramirez in the hot seat. “The business came about 30 to 40 percent down.

Ramirez says a leader in the Hispanic community asked about the decline in business, his answer ended up in the lawsuit. “I don't want to sue anybody and I don't want to be involved in that suit.â€