Thread: Tulsa City Councilor Wants Stronger Enforcement Of Immig law

Tulsa City Councilor Wants Stronger Enforcement Of Immigration Laws
Posted: Jun 13, 2010 8:20 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 14, 2010 12:27 PM CDT
Featured Video Tulsa City Councilor Wants Stronger Enforcement Of Immigration Laws



Tulsa City Councilor Jim Mautino wants a draft of a city ordinance to become law. It would require the city, and contractors who work for the city, to verify the citizenship status of all employees.
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Mautino believes city contractors, especially road contractors, are hiring illegal immigrants to cut labor costs.



"I'm afraid it just amplifies and intensifies the debate. I don't know if it really accomplishes anything and it certainly doesn't move towards solving the problem," said Leonard Bush, who represents the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations.By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa City Councilor wants to see stronger enforcement of current immigration laws by making sure that city employees and city contractors are American citizens.

"We still haven't really enforced our immigration laws," said Jim Mautino, Tulsa City Council.

Mautino figures the city ought to pick up where state law, he says, has been ineffective. He wants a draft of a city ordinance to become law. It would require the city, and contractors who work for the city, to verify the citizenship status of all employees.

Read the draft.

Jim Mautino believes city contractors, especially road contractors, are hiring illegal immigrants to cut labor costs.

"They can afford to work for less money. The contractors can hire them for less money, but when it's all said and done, they have more money in their hand than our workers do because they're not paying these taxes," said Mautino.

All of those arguments don't hold up for Leonard Bush, who represents the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations.

"I'm afraid it just amplifies and intensifies the debate. I don't know if it really accomplishes anything and it certainly doesn't move towards solving the problem," said Bush.

Bush recognizes there are many immigrants in Tulsa who don't have the right paperwork. But he believes a city ordinance requiring employers to verify citizenship won't accomplish much.

"I'm just very, very cautious of plain simple solutions because so far, all the simple solutions haven't fixed anything," said Bush.

The proposed ordinance is up for discussion Tuesday at the Tulsa City Council where it is unlikely to get much support from other councilors, especially at the moment, when finalizing the budget is the priority.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12642706

It's amazing...common sense seems to be breaking out all over. Must be contagious.

Immigration Debate Heats Up In Tulsa
Re[orted by: Rebecca Smith

Last Update: 6/15 8:49 pm

Tulsa, OK- The Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held a press conference Tuesday morning outside of City Hall to address concerns it has over one city councilor's proposal to require the use by the City of the federal E-Verify employment verification system.

Tulsa City Councilor, District 6, Jim Mautino says he's making the proposal for safety reasons.

The question of how to deal with the issue of illegal immigration can divide communities and sometimes even lead to violence.

Following Arizona's passage of a law requiring immigrants to carry their papers, cities and states are jumping on the bandwagon.

Here, Mautino says he wants to see Tulsa do what the federal government isn't, requiring the city, and contractors who work for the city, to verify the citizenship status of all employees.

The president of Tulsa's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce says it's the federal government's sole responsibility to deal with illegal immigration.

"It's going to create hatred," said Francisco Trevino, President of the Chamber.

"They are trying to do anything to tackle the problem instead of find a solution," said Kasey Hughart, a concerned citizen opposed to the proposal.

But, for supporters of Mautino's proposal, tackling the problem of illegal immigration at the local level is a solution.

"This has nothing to do with race. It has to do with breaking the law," said Bruce Delay. "The citizens of Tulsa are contacting their legislators, going through the proper channels, to say we need help."

The proposal will be voted on at this Thursday's city council meeting.

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