State Lawmaker Calls for Stricter Immigration Laws

One state lawmaker is applauding Arizona's new laws, now the toughest sanctions against border crossing in the nation, and wants to replicate similar immigration legislation in Oklahoma.

Sunday, April 25th 2010, 11:35 pm

By: News 9


By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Immigration is causing an uproar in Arizona after the state's governor signed the nation's toughest sanctions against illegal border crossings. One state lawmaker is applauding Arizona's law and wants to replicate similar immigration legislation in Oklahoma.

There is a deep divide on a federal immigration reform, which has forced states to take matters into their own hands. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer passed a bill Friday empowering police to search people they suspect are illegal immigrants.

"These are measures we're asking for and begging for and the people of America are starting to lose hope," said Representative Mike Christian.

Rep. Christian said replicating that same law in the Sooner State would be perfect.

"People have said enough is enough in south Oklahoma City. We've got terrible gang violence attributed back to illegal immigration. My wife and I were injured in an accident. We were injured," Rep. Christian said.

Opponents say the proposal could take a dramatic effect on the Latino community. Immigration Attorney Micheal Brooks-Jimenez said Oklahoma has been a forerunner in passing immigration laws such as House Bill 1804.

"A lot of the effect in the Latino community is that it served to separate lots of families from their breadwinners," said Brooks-Jimenez.

"The day after the law passed nobody was leaving their homes to work. People were afraid to send kids to school. There was a sense of terror and the law wasn't even in effect," said Patricia Fennell, CEO of the Latino Community Development Agency.

Fennel agrees passing such strict immigration legislation could only do more harm than good.

"In the case in Arizona, it'll be an offense just because you're working and providing for your families, so it's a very, very chaotic situation in the country," Fennel said.

"The plan they have doesn't work, it separates families. It keeps businesses from getting positions filled, as a result we have a broken system," Brooks-Jimenez said.

Representative Christian said the border needs to be sealed before there are any talks of having any comprehensive immigration reform.

Hispanic community leaders like Fennel said she's hopeful a law will be passed within the next two years but she said it all begins with having dialogue on a federal level.

Rep. Christian said he and a majority of other legislators in Oklahoma are committed to having some of the similar measures in Arizona passed in the state.

More on News9.com:
- 2 Years Later: What's the Impact of Immigration Law HB1804?
- Reality of HB 1804 Revealed
- Study Shows House Bill 1804 More Costly

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