New Law Creates Quagmire

Oklahoma’s new anti-illegal immigration law, touted by its promoters as one of the strictest in the nation, has created a huge quagmire in the state and will wreak havoc with businesses, farmers, law enforcement departments, social service agencies and, of course, the Hispanic community.

But House Bill 1804, sponsored by state Rep. Randy Terrill (R-Moore), was designed exactly to create this quagmire, and the Oklahoma leadership—in another colossal error—has failed miserably to temper Terrill or even plan sufficiently for the bill’s effects. All the moaning and groaning is coming after the fact.

Essentially the bill holds people legally liable for helping undocumented workers. It urges law enforcement to deport illegal workers. It denies, with rare exceptions, public social services and health care to people here illegally. The philosophy behind the bill is not covert or tangled up in rhetoric. The philosophy is that illegal immigrants are not welcome in Oklahoma. Period. It says, “Get out now and do not come back” to non-citizens without appropriate documentation.

It is difficult to dispute that Terrill’s bill and its supporters have overwhelming support in the state. The bill passed by large margins in the House and Senate. It was signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry. Illegal immigration is an emotional issue for many state residents, who feel they have to obey laws while non-citizens do not. They also feel illegal immigrants depress their wages and take their jobs. This cuts between the lines of both major political parties.

Consequently, no matter what you think about the new law, the ideals of democracy and majority rule demand it be enforced. All we can do now is plan for the fallout.

Here are some of the problem areas:

(1) Certain state businesses, such as construction, roofing and landscaping companies and others, will be put at a decided disadvantage with similar out-of-state businesses, which can employ undocumented workers in their home states. How will this affect overall prices here? Will it be significant or negligible? How will it affect the housing market? Mike Means, executive vice president of the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association, was quoted recently about the issue in the Washington Post. Means says “…we're looking at a labor shortage. I've got builders who are being forced to slow down jobs because they don't have the crews. And it's not like these people are going back to Mexico. They're going to Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Arkansas, anywhere where the laws aren't against them."

(2) Some farmers throughout the state have relied on illegal migrant workers for years. Will this put more small farms out of business here? How will this affect Oklahomans? Will it impact our rural communities, many of which are losing population? The state already has a low ranking for sustainability. One of the major components of sustainability is locally grown food. Will the law impact this issue?

(3) How should law enforcement agencies deal with the new law? Both Oklahoma City Police Chief William Citty and Texas County Sheriff Arnold Peoples, who is in Guymon, say the law is problematic. The questions are simple: Are there enough law enforcement officers to investigate and arrest undocumented workers? How much money will it cost? What about the issue of racial profiling? Peoples was quoted in The Oklahoman recently about the issue. He said, “"This law is one of those things where it sounds good when you're banging your fist against a desk. And say this is what we're doing about it. But it doesn't fix anything. It just creates a bigger problem.”

(4) How should social service and health agencies deal with indigent, undocumented workers? The Oklahoma Health Care Authority, for example, recently voted to provide prenatal care to illegal immigrants. Terrill says it is illegal. How should we resolve the issue? In addition, sources tell Okie Funk that thousands of people will be denied services under the law, and that it is causing a great deal of consternation and grief among many social workers, who went into their field to help people. The issue has the potential to create morale problems and divisiveness.

(5) What will be the toll in the Hispanic communities in the state? Many Hispanic people feel they are being targeted as scapegoats. One Hispanic leader, the Rev. Miguel Rivera, leader of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy, called those who support the law "guilty of ethnic cleansing.” This is hyped rhetoric, for sure, but it represents a growing sentiment in the Hispanic community that their neighbors have turned against them. Will our Hispanic communities ultimately be devastated by the law? Will Hispanic people—citizens, non-citizens, and undocumented workers—simply move from the state? What will be the impact on our culture and our overall sense of morality if this happens? What will be the legacy of all this and how will it affect the state’s reputation?

The law has been challenged once in court, but the lawsuit was dismissed. Watch for more lawsuits and more fallout. This Oklahoma spectacle is not going away anytime soon.