Son of House Bill 1804
Monday, December 3, 2007; Posted 6:13 p.m. (CDT)

State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, is calling his proposal the "Son of House Bill 1804. He says he's just trying to deal with unfinished business, and it's drawing debate from both sides.

State Rep. Shane Jett, R-Tecumseh, says "Son of 1804" is not the right way to go.

"I think he's biting off quite a bit," says Jett.

Terrill is considering more immigration legislation for this upcoming session to bolster the existing bill.

"The centerpiece of that piece of legislation would be making English the official language of Oklahoma," says Terrill.

It would also give law enforcement the power to seize vehicles and property from those knowingly supporting illegal residents.

"I think it's going to end up hurting more Oklahomans than actually accomplishing what we're wanting to accomplish," says Jett.

Terrill is also hoping to make school districts report how many of their students are here illegally, but the big hitter Terrill may include is denying birth certificates to children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants.

"I think taking on the Constitution of the Unites States is a little presumptive," says Jett.

"That's a myth. In fact anyone who's read the first sentence of the 14th Amendment, it's pretty clear," says Terrill.

The issue is the 14th Amendment. Part of that amendment states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside . . ."

Terrill says it's the "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof" that shows he is not crossing any line.

"They are not subject to jurisdiction of the United States in the legal sense of that term, and the reason why is because they've never sworn allegiance to their new country," says Terrill.

Jett says 1804 is currently too expensive for Oklahoma. He believes that his own proposal will help solve that. He hopes to put in place a Work-Visa Program, but Terrill says he'd be surprised if it ever makes the floor.

Terrill also argues that Jett's bill creates an Immigration Bureau, which Oklahoma cannot currently legally do. Jett says there is no language in his bill that creates that; he says it's simply an ID program.
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