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  1. #1
    Senior Member Dixie's Avatar
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    OK: Governor signs immigration bill

    May 08, 2007 07:39 pm

    Governor signs immigration bill

    By Jaclyn Houghton
    CNHI News Service

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry signed an immigration bill Tuesday, but said the federal government still needs to take action.

    “Illegal immigration is a very serious national security issue that must be addressed at the federal level,” he said in a statement. “States can take some actions on their own, but until the U.S. Congress enacts a comprehensive, national immigration policy, citizens will see little progress on this issue.”

    The bill, House Bill 1804, authored by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, and Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, passed the House in its current form with an 84-14 vote. It had passed the Senate with a 41-6 vote.

    The immigration measure will, among other things, require public employers to verify the residency status of new employees; require local and state law enforcement agencies to detain illegal immigrants; require anyone seeking state identification to prove residency or citizenship; and terminate government subsidies like health care and welfare for illegal immigrants except in certain emergency and humanitarian public services.

    Mauro Yanez, a permanent U.S. resident originally from Venezuela, said the bill is “evil and immoral.”

    “It’s very sad for the Hispanic community in Oklahoma,” especially during the state’s centennial year, said Yanez, of Norman.

    Although he is in the country legally, he said he is still fearful that he and all other dark-skinned people in Oklahoma will be racially profiled by law enforcement.

    “This gives the message to the United States that the Hispanics are not welcome, whether residents or non-residents,” Yanez said.

    Terrill said the bill puts Oklahoma at the “forefront of immigration reform” in the country. He said dealing with illegal immigration is not a partisan issue, but rather an issue about what is right and wrong, and respect for the rule of law.

    Yanez said he will be working with several others to try to get the courts involved on the constitutionality of the bill.

    “This is just a case of politics right now,” he said.

    The original bill included a provision that would have repealed a statute that allows in-state tuition to some illegal immigrants. The Senate changed that portion of the bill by allowing children of illegal immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than two years and graduated from a high school in Oklahoma to be eligible for in-state tuition as long as they are pursuing citizenship within a year. This provision would not affect current college students.

    Yanez said it usually takes about five years to become a citizen once you are a legal resident.

    It will be a felony to knowingly conceal, harbor, shelter, transport or attempt to transport an illegal immigrant under the bill. An exception will allow the transportation or harboring of illegal immigrants if associated with public benefits allowed by federal law or public health services provided by private funds through a private charity.

    Some legislators called Senate amendments that were passed on the original House bill not tough enough on business and lukewarm at best. Others felt the overall bill was mean-spirited and may cause racial profiling by law enforcement agents in the state, one of Yanez’s concerns.

    Henry urged legislators to keep watch of the effects of the legislation.

    “State leaders should closely monitor the impact of HB 1804 in the months and years to come to ensure that it doesn’t have any unintended consequences,” he said.

    The majority of the bill goes into law Nov. 1, 2007, with some portions dealing with private employers phasing in July 1, 2008.



    Jaclyn Houghton is CNHI News Service Oklahoma reporter.

    http://www.mwcsun.com/statenews/cnhinsa ... 93952.html
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  2. #2
    Senior Member pjr40's Avatar
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    Hooray for Oklahoma and to hell with
    <div>Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself. Mark Twain</div>

  3. #3
    Senior Member pjr40's Avatar
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    Mauro Yanez!
    <div>Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself. Mark Twain</div>

  4. #4
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    I am so glad to see that some politicians are taking their responsibilities seriously. This is wonderful and a very good start!
    Now, maybe other states will follow suit.
    We just need to keep our fingers crossed now for Hazelton. We all have a lot at stake there.

  5. #5
    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    This article contains a link to the actual bill in case anyone wants to review it.
    ~~~~~~~~

    Governor Signs Sweeping Immigration Reform Bill
    AP - 5/8/2007 6:26 PM - Updated 5/8/2007 9:17 PM
    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Governor Henry today signed a sweeping immigration reform bill that was passed overwhelmingly by the Oklahoma Legislature, but described it as a stopgap measure until the federal government takes action on the issue.

    Among other things, the bill contains employment, labor law and civil rights provisions to protect citizens and legal immigrants who lose their jobs at companies that employ illegal immigrants to perform the same or similar work.

    Beginning in November, public agencies will be required to use a program that screens Social Security numbers to make sure they are real and that they match up with a job applicant's name.

    Private companies will be required to use the program starting next July.

    The governor urged lawmakers to closely monitor the impact of the bill to make sure it does not have unintended consequences. To read House Bill No. 1804 click here.

    http://www.kotv.com/news/topstory/?id=126903
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  6. #6
    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    Support our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at https://eepurl.com/cktGTn

  7. #7
    uptomyneckinillegals's Avatar
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    Yanez

    Pretty much goes to show that those that are not citizens want to be catered to. It's usually like that in health care as well. The illegals come in to the hospital, don't pay for a dime of it, and want to be treated like royalty because our gov't. dictates that they should be.

  8. #8

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    For once, yay for Oklahoma!!

    Boo for us in Dallas, as the illegals will be leaving OK in droves and coming here.

    TexasGal

  9. #9
    Senior Member skeptic's Avatar
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    WTG Oklahoma

    All right Oklahoma and Gov. Brad Henry. They passed a good bill to halt the illegal immigration in their state and the stealing of public services paid by tax paying Americans. Though this is a victory in the right direction; Gov.Brad Henry does remind us that the U.S Congress must act on a national Immigration policy to get progress on this issue.
    Hopefully Congress will listen to the American people and actually represent us; as they know about 80% of U.S. citizens want them to pass similar bills. Building a fence; securing it with more boarder patrol and no path to citizenship for illegals and the deportation of all of them. Besides the obvious, debts left unpaid to hospitals and people renting or hiring illegals; and the stealing of our education system to educate illegals; never mind the scholarships to colleges that belong to u.s. citizens.
    As far as Mauro Yanez saying this is "evil and immoral"; its called justice. The law; and it should be upheld. Whats evil is people taking advantage of our country and whats immoral is making others who obey the law pay for those that don't.
    His concern about profiling well I think we can lay that to rest pretty easily. If you can't speak a word of English or just a few either your a legal foreigner with a passport visiting or an illegal immigrant scamming our system. ID check. If people are coming across the boarder for
    jobs your illegal.
    Too bad they could not stop the immoral stealing of higher education; or toughen the law more.
    Now other states in financial ruin because of illegal immigrants may follow this example; and make similar laws.
    Hopefully Congress will in time too. Also close the loophole of anchor kids, and pass a bill stating that if your parents are not U.S citizens; then a child born here is not. They have to keep up with the times and with those the exploit our laws.

  10. #10
    Senior Member mkfarnam's Avatar
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    Well,
    I guess I can be rest assured that i`m heading in the right direction!
    ------------------------

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