Thread: OK-Hispanics decry House bill

Hispanics decry House bill
The proposal would require schools to verify and report all students' immigration status.


Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman Ed Martinez Jr. speaks at a press conference Monday at the Tulsa Press Club against House Bill 3384, which would require schools to determine the citizenship of students. Behind him are Eduardo Mora (from left), Marvin Lizama, Yolanda Charney and Nancy Day.
By RANDY KREHBIEL
Published: 3/16/2010 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 3/16/2010 4:15 AM

A bill that would require Oklahoma public schools to verify the immigration status of all students and report it to the state Department of Education drew fire from Tulsa Hispanic leaders Monday as well as criticism from Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard.

"I don't think it's wise to make schools responsible for gathering that kind of information," Ballard said. "It would be a huge undertaking and detract from our mission, which is to teach kids."

Earlier in the day, representatives of the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said the measure, House Bill 3384, by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, would create an unfunded mandate for already-strapped schools and is a step toward shutting illegal immigrants out of public education.

"The American people have always regarded education as a matter of supreme importance and a primary vehicle for transmitting American values," chamber spokesman Mario Lizana said. "By denying undocumented students a basic education, we deny them the ability to live within civic institutions and structure and foreclose the possibility they will contribute in even the smallest way to the progress of this state."

Terrill denied that HB 3384 would infringe on any child's access to public education or that its cost to schools would be significant. He said his only purpose is gathering accurate information about the cost of educating illegal immigrant children.

"Certainly, some schools are gathering this information already," Terrill said.

In 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment prevented Texas public schools from barring illegal immigrants. The court said the law imposed a penalty against children who had little or no control over their immigration status.

The majority opinion also stated that barring illegal immigrants from public schools likely would lead to "the creation and perpetuation of a subclass of illiterates."

Terrill said he has no firm plans for using the data that would be collected by the schools. He did say, however, that he expects the data to show the cost of educating illegal immigrants to be "stunningly high."

Such figures could be helpful in a challenge of the 1982 decision, which was based in part on the court's finding that Texas had not proved that a "substantial interest" would be served by excluding illegal immigrant children from public schools.

Terrill also denied that schools would become extensions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, something opponents of the bill believe is suggested by a section that says disclosure of information about individual students is forbidden "except for purposes permitted pursuant to 8 U.S.C., Sections 1373 and 1644."

Those sections of federal law deal with the exchange of immigration information between state and federal officials.

Terrill said his bill "does not change federal immigration law," but he stopped short of saying federal agencies could not demand individual student information.

"There is some basis by which (federal authorities) can access that information on a very limited basis now," he said.

University of Tulsa immigration law expert Elizabeth McCormick said, "My reading of that section is that it prohibits public disclosure of personally identifying information but would not prohibit disclosure of that information to federal immigration authorities, whether or not the information was requested by a federal agency."




randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article. ... lsaH677493

If a Nation has no Sovereignty, there is no nation...

"I don't think it's wise to make schools responsible for gathering that kind of information," Ballard said. "It would be a huge undertaking and detract from our mission, which is to teach kids."



Really?

Seeing that schools are responsible for gathering all sorts of other information on students......such as statistics regarding income levels gleaned from applications for lunch programs,and a whole host of other information.......and providing that information to various agencies, why is this any different?

Schools already need to see student documentation, where is asking for immigration documents at the same time during the same process such a hardship?

And why is it that it is only.....again......the hispanics pitching a bitch?

Throughout my grade school years I have attended public schools with the children of illegal aliens. My elementary school consisted of roughly 90% Hispanics, and most were children of people who were not here legally. These numbers have to be tracked. People have to see how these people are using all of our resources; resources which they do not desreve. I have no problem keeping these children illiterate because they should not be here in the first place. Keeping illegal children out of school will result in less of them wanting to stay.

I grew up in south Texas schools. In the late 60's and 70's there were very few Non-English speaking students. There was no need for bi-lingual teachers. No free breakfast, lunch, or afterschool daycare.
Now that Texas is under Mexico's control, taxpayers are forced to pay for all these goodies and more to reward illegal behavior, largly by Mexicans.
Up until a few years ago, no one was allowed to ask or even suggest that illegal immigrants were inundating this country. There were NO statistics. There was no way to determine how many illegal children are being educated, fed, and vaccinated at our expense.
As a young adult, my family needed financial assistance. Every program available required Social Security number and proof of income. We were charged a fee accoring to income, nothing was free.
Mexico has succeeded in the stealth takeover of the U.S. Our own Federal Government used our tax dollars to facilitate and encourage more illegal peasants to come feed off of honest citizen taxpayers.
Those of us who pay what we owe to Uncle Sam, don't cause trouble by being outspoken, and believe every family should pay their own way, and that the U.S. gov., will protect the sovereignty of this once great nation are fools.
If we don't DEMAND immigration Enforcement vs Rewards, nothing will change and the takeover will make American taxpayers slaves to the invading hordes. At what point will we decide not to give our hard earned money over to a corrupt government?

He did say, however, that he expects the data to show the cost of educating illegal immigrants to be "stunningly high."

BINGO! This is the exact same reason the MSM refuse to identify the immigration status of almost all crime stories. If the general public KNEW THE FACTS the backlash would be unstoppable!

"I don't think it's wise to make schools responsible for gathering that kind of information," Ballard said. "It would be a huge undertaking and detract from our mission, which is to teach kids."

But when they want more money for the schools they sure jump on the needs of ESL students, nourishing meals, etc,.


I believe his job is to educate AMERICAN students , in English, each day, after saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

All others should be removed--post haste!!!!

The Governor's Primary Election required my family to vote at the local Elementary School. This is a small school 35 miles north of Houston. I happened to notice on the bulliten board a picture of the 4 ESL teachers. Lets just assume that these teachers make 25,000. per year. That is 100,000.00 for one small school. That says something about the enormous cost of non-English speaking students in this country.
One of the Propositions on the GOP ballot was a suggestion that English competency be required before students are enrolled. This is a great idea. Let private business start ESL classes for profit and take the burden off of teachers, taxpayers, and give these kids a better start when they enter public school.