Oklahoma's Crackdown On Illegal Immigration
The Dallas Morning News today has a very interesting story about Oklahoma's tough anti-illegal-immigrant laws, and how those laws may provide templates for other states to follow. The article also notes several downsides of the tough laws, and emphasizes that while such laws might work in Oklahoma, a state with an estimated 7% Hispanic population, the situation would be much different in Texas, with an estimated 36% Hispanic population. Here are excerpts:
Welcome to the nation's laboratory for a crackdown on illegal immigration. Last year, Oklahoma's Legislature passed, by huge margins, the nation's toughest law on illegal immigrants, making it a felony to harbor, transport, shelter or conceal undocumented immigrants.
This summer, the same law also will allow U.S. citizens to sue employers if they think they were fired in favor of illegal workers. Employers in the state say they already see the results: "A total lack of workers," said Doug Forrest, a Tulsa site-preparation contractor and golf course builder. "This is potentially sending our state into a recession."
Proponents of the law don't see such economic harm.
Meanwhile, some Texas lawmakers are already promising bills that mirror Oklahoma's House Bill 1804.
State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said the Oklahoma measure has proved that even as Congress deadlocks on immigration, a state can protect itself against what he calls threats to public health and safety posed by a porous border.
"You don't have to round up 20 million illegal aliens," Mr. Berman said. "Stop the two free benefits you're giving them - free health care and a free education - and they'll go back across the Rio Grande."
In December, Oklahoma Treasurer Scott Meacham said "some short-run pain" to that state's economy might occur, if reports of temporary labor shortages in construction, agriculture and oilfield services industries proved severe and long-lasting.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several Oklahoma business groups recently sued to overturn the law, saying it improperly steps on federal government turf.
Only one group has tried to track the law's effects on population. The Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, after checking with schools, churches, and bus lines with service to Mexico, estimated that between 15,000 and 25,000 illegal immigrants have left Tulsa County since the law was passed.
Several Christian denominations have said they'll continue to urge parishioners to aid strangers, even though the law threatens those who transport or shelter "aliens" with at least one year in prison and/or at least a $1,000 fine.
In November, messengers to the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma passed a resolution saying the law "will not change their ministry to any people," according to the Southern Baptist group's Web site.
Last year, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a law that:
•Restricts illegal immigrants' access to driver's licenses and ID cards.
•Cuts off several forms of public assistance for illegal immigrants. Emergency medical care, disaster aid and certain immunizations are exempted.
•Makes it harder for illegal immigrants to pay in-state college tuition.
•Encourages state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law.
•Makes it a felony to harbor, transport, conceal or shelter illegal immigrants.
•Requires state and local governments to use a federal database that allows them to check potential employees' work eligibility.
•Starting this summer, private employers and government contractors will have to verify employment eligibility of all new hires. Employers who don't could be sued.
This year, Oklahoma lawmakers are considering bills that would:
•Designate English as the state's official language.
•Let law enforcement seize the property of those who transport, hire or rent to illegal immigrants.
•Make public schools report how many illegal-immigrant children are enrolled.
•Repeal last year's law.
•Repeal all of last year's law, except for its ban on most public benefits.