Okklahoma City — Latino leaders said Monday a new state law that targets illegal immigrants promotes hatred and predicted it will be blocked by a federal judge.
Hispanic officials and their supporters gathered at the state Capitol three days before Oklahoma's sweeping immigration bill is scheduled to go into effect on Thursday. The measure, which received bipartisan support in the Legislature last spring, would bar illegal immigrants from getting jobs and state benefits.
The Rev. Victor Orta, state coordinator of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, said his organization supports "fair and comprehensive" reform of federal immigration regulations but that members of Congress have failed to enact reforms.
"They have used this as a political football," Orta said.
Orta and others said immigration is a federal responsibility, not the state's, and called for a moratorium on arrests and deportation of illegal immigrants until Congress addresses the issue. Orta's group and several undocumented immigrants have challenged the state law in federal court in Tulsa. A hearing on their request for a preliminary injunction is scheduled Wednesday.
"This law strikes against Oklahoma values - the value and dignity of families," he said. Opponents have said the measure could result in the separation of children born in the U.S. and living in the state legally from their illegal immigrant parents, who would face deportation.
Steven Langer, an attorney in a largely Hispanic neighborhood in south Oklahoma City, said the law targets Hispanics who pay taxes, support the economy and are driving population growth in the state.
Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, said the illegal immigration measure is nationality neutral and does not target a specific race.
"It is preposterous for someone to assert that we should not enforce the law because the majority of the people who break it are of one particular race, ethnicity or national origin," Terrill said.
The measure contains safeguards against racial profiling," Terrill said. Opponents are resorting to name-calling to avoid a debate on illegal immigration "which they know they will lose," he said.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
"Latino leaders said Monday a new state law that targets illegal immigrants promotes hatred and predicted it will be blocked by a federal judge."
Actually, it promotes following the law. If you don't like it, feel free to go back to your home country.
storm (anonymous) says…
Just say illegal immigrants, period. "Steven Langer, an attorney in a largely Hispanic neighborhood in south Oklahoma City, said the law targets Hispanics who pay taxes, support the economy and are driving population growth in the state." I agree with this statement because people think Hispanic always equals illegal immigration. And that is so obviously false.
ctrmhero (anonymous) says…
I hope the tribal police on the reservations in OK stop every person that they see and check there nationality. I see a lot of people where I live that look like they are from Canada and Germany. I think everyone should be arrested and held against there will until they can prove their documents are legitimate. I see people that look like they are from Cuba to so I hope they get stopped and detained. Anyone who does not feel this will be an issue based on appearance is silly. If not I hope you get stopped by a cop that makes you feel they way these people do. I am talking about citizens who are harrased, because brown means illegal.
50YearResident (anonymous) says…
Just like murderers protesting against the "Death Penalty", It's wrong if it might affect me.