Thread: UT: Reform law gets mixed reviews

Reform law gets mixed reviews
Lawmaker, businesses call the Oklahoma legislation from which Utah's SB81 is based 'mean-spirited'
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 02/18/2008 08:54:30 PM MST


An Oklahoma immigration reform law being used as a model for proposed legislation in Utah has been hailed as a success by those who call it one of the toughest in the nation.
But it is getting different reviews from Oklahoma business leaders and other opponents who claim it is devastating the community and battering the state's image.
In Utah, SB81, sponsored by Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, is scheduled for debate today on the Senate floor. Among other things, Hickman's 16-page bill would enlist some state and local officers to enforce federal immigration law, force public employers and their contractors to verify the legal status of workers and make it a Class A misdemeanor to transport or shelter undocumented immigrants.
Oklahoma Rep. Randy Terrill, a Republican who sponsored that state's legislation, says the law's main thrusts are to force undocumented families to return to their countries and keep the state from subsidizing the cost of illegal immigration.
Less than four months since the law was implemented, Terrill says there is "anecdotal evidence" that Latinos are leaving the state.
"It seems to be working pretty well," he said. "What was Oklahoma's problem is now some other state's problem."
Terrill says he proposed the law because he and his constituents were tired of the strain undocumented immigrants and what he calls their "anchor babies" - U.S.-born children - were putting on public services, roads and schools.
Latinos comprise 7 percent of Oklahoma's population, and 11 percent of Utah's, according to 2006 U.S. Census estimates.
However, Oklahoma Sen. Harry Coates, a Republican, said he would warn Utah lawmakers to reconsider supporting what he called a "mean-spirited" bill.
"If they think anything about their morals or their business people, they will kill that bill pronto," Coates said. "It's an awful law. . . . It just says if you look different and don't speak English, we don't want you here."
Coates says he's heard that owners of hotels, construction businesses, restaurants and oil companies are all having a hard time finding workers.
Roy Williams, CEO and president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, says companies should not be hiring undocumented workers. But the law mandates employers go through a confusing, expensive and time-consuming process to verify employees' legal status. That part of the law takes effect in July.
"Our businesses don't like this law because it's costing money," Williams said.
In Tulsa, sales at small businesses in Latino areas have dropped some 50 percent, said Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Francisco Treviño.
Among the concerns that have surfaced under the Oklahoma law are undocumented workers can no longer get food-handler permits, and family members fear they can be arrested for being with their undocumented relatives and friends, law opponents said. The Hispanic chamber estimates that 15,000 to 25,000 Latinos have moved out of the Tulsa area based on figures from school and church enrollments and other groups, Treviño said.
Opponents of the Oklahoma bill say the law is breaking up families because many of them are divided - some relatives have U.S. papers and others don't. They also say the law has created a "very hostile" environment for non-whites, especially Latinos, because everyone's legal status is questioned.
"No one expected the devastation that this was going to incur," said Patricia Fennell, president and CEO of Latino Community Development Agency in Tulsa.
But Terrill and other bill supporters say undocumented immigrants are breaking the law. And since Congress has refused to address the problem, Oklahoma needs to enforce the law.
What businesses are really saying is "We can't get cheap, cheap labor like we used to,'" said Carol Helm, director of Immigration Reform for Oklahoma Now (IRON), an anti-illegal immigration group.
Hickman says he hasn't read any reports on how the law is affecting Oklahoma. But he hopes his bill forces undocumented families to return to their countries and apply for legal U.S. status there.
He also says he has no concerns that SB81 will affect Utah business community or the economy. Since states don't have the authority to pass legislation such as a guest-worker program, Hickman said, "This is the only solution left to us."

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8299101?source=rss

Do you notice, that it is always Latino groups and businesses that cry the loudest agaisnt these strickter illegal immigration laws?

What an eye opener! The Hispanic Community crying about losing business there in Oklahoma,due to illegals leaving. Wow! Now maybe they know what it is to lose business and opportuninties and loss of jobs and money.

As many Americans already know the PAIN of losing their JOBS because their company has moved it TO MEXICO! Or some other Asian country. I think it only fitting they lose their shirts. To keep bringing this crap up about breaking up families!

I am sorry. But they were divided before some of them decided to come LEGALLY and others chose the ILLEGAL path. Now it is OUR DUTY to let them stay? or even feel sorry for them?since their family members would be divided!

That is sorry alright. That is the sorriest excuse for IMMIGRATION!

No SYMPATHY HERE

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http://www.alipac.us/article2970.html

"Our businesses don't like this law because it's costing money," Williams said.

What about the taxpayer's money??

It would and should cost businesses money and even jail if all current laws were enforced-if you live in utah get applications from companys suspected of hiring illegals -watch them tell you they are not hiring-call back from different phone and tell them you are contractor from another state and have'migrants' who want to stay in area and work -the same people who told you the day before there was no work 2 out of 10 times will then tell you 8 out of 10 to send them in for application,etc-I have done this about 40 times.

Originally Posted by agrneydgrl

Do you notice, that it is always Latino groups and businesses that cry the loudest agaisnt these strickter illegal immigration laws?

Do you notice they also always have a Latino reporter write the story? Talk about one sided reporting!

Originally Posted by uniteasone

What an eye opener! The Hispanic Community crying about losing business there in Oklahoma,due to illegals leaving.

They need to stop crying and start following the illegals back to Latin America. They sure didn't give a damn when Americans started losing wages and business.