Posted on 10/31/2007 7:28:42 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A new state immigration law that targets illegal immigrants has created fear and panic in Latino communities across Oklahoma and will force many immigrants -- both documented and undocumented – to leave their jobs and homes, Latino groups said Wednesday.
Latinos and their supporters reacted to the law on the eve of its Thursday effective date after a federal judge in Tulsa took under advisement a request to block its enforcement.
In a two-page ruling, U.S. District Judge James H. Payne wrote that the plaintiffs had failed to introduce enough evidence to meet the burden of proof required for a preliminary injunction to be issued.
"In light of plaintiffs' failure to introduce evidence in support of their motion ... the court cannot conclude that the plaintiffs' right to a preliminary injunction has been clearly and unequivocally established," Payne wrote.
The statute -- which received bipartisan support from state lawmakers who expressed frustration with Congress' inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform – has created anxiety in Latino communities, said Pat Fennel, director of the Latino Community Development Agency in Oklahoma City.
"So many Latinos have already left Oklahoma and many plan to do so, which is precisely what Randy Terrill wanted -- cleanse the state," Fennel said.
She predicted the statute will have dire economic consequences for Oklahoma businesses who rely on immigrant labor. Among other things, it imposes new requirements on employers to verify the immigration status and employment eligibility of their workers and penalizes those who willfully hire illegal immigrants.
"There are segments of the economy that are really feeling the impact. Those people who are here are fearful, distressed, going underground," Fennel said.
"There's going to be employment gaps and employers are going to suffer," said Rey Madrid of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a Washington-based group that is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States.
"A lot of them are not going to leave, they're going to go underground," Madrid said.
The measure also eliminates an illegal immigrant's ability to obtain public benefits and gives state and local law enforcement the ability to enforce immigration law, including detaining illegals until they are deported.
Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran, Catholic Archbishop of Oklahoma City, and other clergy and church parishioners have pledged to defy the law and continue offering services to the needy regardless of their immigration status.
"We're going forward with the same services tomorrow that we offered today," said Richard Klinge, director of advocacy and legal services for Catholic Charities.
But Fennel said Hispanic parents are pulling their school age children out of public school classrooms and Hispanic children and adults -- including those in the country legally -- are staying away from public health care clinics in their communities.
PING
Dire predictions, schmire predictions—Federal Law Enforcement by Attrition!!! Yeaaahhhhhh!!
Hey, if it works, go for it!!!
Hats off to the Okeys! :-)
I second that..
Oh STFU. We're all sick of hearing it from you whiny liars who protect and enable law breakers.
Another AP story.....
Request To Block Immigration Law Denied
TULSA, Okla. — A federal judge denied late Wednesday a request by Latino groups to block the implementation of a new state law targeting illegal immigrants, paving the way for the bill to take effect in a matter of hours.
In a two-page ruling, U.S. District Judge James H. Payne wrote that the plaintiffs had failed to introduce enough evidence to meet the burden of proof required for a preliminary injunction to be issued.
“In light of plaintiffs’ failure to introduce evidence in support of their motion ... the court cannot conclude that the plaintiffs’ right to a preliminary injunction has been clearly and unequivocally established,” Payne wrote.
The Latino groups sought the preliminary injunction to stop the new law, which would bar illegal immigrants from obtaining jobs or state assistance and make it a felony to harbor or transport illegal aliens.
Payne threw out an earlier attempt by the group to stop the measure, known as House Bill 1804, saying the plaintiffs could not show they were harmed by a law that hadn’t taken effect yet.
In its second filing, the group added several unidentified illegal immigrants who have been told they must move from their rent homes because of the new law.
“We’re obviously disappointed by the ruling and looking at our options right now,” said Rohit Sharma, attorney for the plaintiffs. Sharma said despite denial of the injunction, the lawsuit will continue.
Charlie Price, a spokesman for Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who was named as a defendant in the suit, said, “we appreciate the judge’s consideration of our arguments, and we’ll let the pleadings speak for themselves.”
Immigrant rights groups have long decried the legislation, saying it unnecessarily repeats federal law, dehumanizes people and panders to people with racial biases. They say tens of thousands of Hispanics have already fled Oklahoma ahead of the law taking effect.
Some churches have also come out against the law. On Tuesday, a representative of Catholic Charities delivered more than 1,000 signed pledges of resistance to H.B. 1804 to Gov. Brad Henry’s office.
Nina Perales, Southwest regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said there was more puffery to the law than substance.
Even so, she said many at the community level are concerned it will unleash immigration raids, increase racial profiling and split up families.
“It is a ridiculously redundant piece of legislation,” Perales said. “These are all federal laws that are already on the books.”
The Rev. Luis-Carlos SDanchez, vice president of the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, said the bill has already “opened the doors for every kind of prejudice and every kind of racial profiling.”
“If we call them criminals, we can abuse them and take advantage,” he said. “We have done this with the Native Americans, calling them savages, and African-Americans, calling them less than whites, and we are doing this again.”
The bill’s author, Republican state lawmaker Randy Terrill, has said the people of Oklahoma support meaningful immigration reform and repeatedly stated he was confident it would hold up if challenged in the courts.
Hours earlier, Judge Payne recessed his courtroom without immediately issuing a ruling on the injunction.
After the recess, both sides on the immigration bill assembled outside the federal courthouse for an often tense news conference.
The Hispanic leaders were interrupted at least twice by residents who supported the new law, and a driver in one car yelled an ethnic slur at the group.
The Rev. Miguel Rivera, president of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, said that a decision to prevent the law from taking effect would help bring calm to the Latino community. Rivera also pledged to fight the law to the U.S. Supreme Court if he had to.
“I know 25,000 or more of my Latino people have been afraid and they have left this state,” Rivera said.
He said the eyes of the nation are watching to see what action the state takes regarding the new law, which is billed by its backers as one of the toughest anti-illegal immigration laws in the country.
Hispanic activist Victor Orta said, “Our families have been receiving eviction notices that, beginning tonight, if they cannot prove their status here, they will be evicted.”
Orta also said he was astonished at the silence of other Anglo churches on the matter.
Supporters of the new law said state legislation was needed because federal authorities had failed to act.
“They want to move Mexico here. They do not want to assimilate. I have a problem with that,” said Tulsa resident Dan Howard, a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper.
Howard began his news conference by saying he would address the crowd in English, because “I’m standing in the USA.” Hispanic leaders earlier spoke to the audience in English, then Spanish.
Carol Helm, director of Immigration Reform for Oklahoma Now, said the bill restates the importance of following labor and tax laws.
“It just seems that every month, the rate of illegals just continues to grow, and that’s a stated fact by the Hispanic organizations,” Helm said. “Common sense says how many, how much, what is the break-even point which the state can absorb?”
Now that’s a judge after my own heart! :)
The pro illegal crowd is up in arms. The law must be working!
Seems like the judges that legislate in favor of illegals are usually Clinton appointees.
Payne, James H.
Born 1941 in Lubbock, TX
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
Nominated by George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by Billy Michael Burrage; Confirmed by the Senate on October 23, 2001, and received commission on October 24, 2001.
Judge, U. S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma
Nominated by George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by Billy Michael Burrage; Confirmed by the Senate on October 23, 2001, and received commission on October 24, 2001.
Judge, U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
Nominated by George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by Billy Michael Burrage; Confirmed by the Senate on October 23, 2001, and received commission on October 24, 2001. Served as chief judge, 2002-present.
U.S. Magistrate, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, 1988-2001
Education:
University of Oklahoma, B.S., 1963
University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 1966
Professional Career:
U.S. Air Force, 1966-1970
U.S. Air Force Reserve, 1975-1992
Assistant U.S. attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Oklahoma, 1970-1973
Private practice, Oklahoma, 1973-1988
Race or Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
As long as the newly legalized illegals work as front-runners for each new wave of illegal invaders, they will continue to feel the shared pain of the backlash.
Why would ‘documented’, read:legal, immigrants be forced to leave their homes/jobs. This is so much liberal pap BS!
that statement proves old madrids elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor. Madrid old boy, that's why they are illegal and they are already working underground.
Because they bought their so-called ‘documents’ and they’re afeared of being found out?? D’oh! If you’re legal, you’ve got no worries, mon!
good... and i hope it hurts!!! 8^)
I used to give to Catholic Charities, but no more!
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