Legislation would allow OK law enforcement to check immigration status

Posted: 9:40 PM
Last Updated: 43 minutes ago
By: Breanne Palmerini

TULSA - State leaders are working on a bill that could put Oklahoma on par with Arizona when it comes to illegal immigration.

Monday night, members of the Hispanic community gathered to discuss the implications.

House Bill 1446 is currently known as "Arizona Plus". If it becomes law it could mean local law enforcement officers could check on the immigration status of drivers.

Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies already have that power.

"We have the computers, we have the authority, we have everything that it takes to make the determination either in the field or behind the walls of the jail," said Sgt. Shannon Clark.

Tulsa is the only county in the state with the program called 287-G.

Since 2007, the Department of Homeland Security has given the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office the training and the authority to conduct immigration enforcement.

Officials say it's led to a drop in crime and call it a valuable tool for other agencies, if officers receive proper training.

"What our hopes are, is for the interest of public safety, that whatever the final piece of legislation that Oklahoma produces will give them the understanding, the training and the knowledge," said Clark.

Hispanic community members are wary of House Bill 1446.

"When you just give power to regular enforcement agents to enforce regular immigration laws that are so complex, they are so complicated, then you open the door, maybe racial profiling, maybe a bad interpretation," said community advocate, Juan Miret.

They hope to educate the public at forums like the one on Monday night and work with state leaders.

"Our main concern is a federal issue and it shouldn't be addressed at the state legislature, we have this proposal now and we're trying to work together with the State legislature to find a better language," said Miret.

Groups like the Dream Coalition and the Hispanic Chamber are actively talking to lawmakers.

"We all know that immigration needs to be addressed, the problem has been ignored of over two decades, we need to do something but House Bill 1446 is not the answer," said Miret.

The bill has passed both the house and the senate, there could still be some amendments at a conference committee.

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news ... ould-grant