Injunction Sought For Immigration Law

Monday, October 29th 2007, 2:42 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Attorneys will ask a federal judge Wednesday to put a hold on a new law that would crack down on illegal immigration in Oklahoma. A federal lawsuit challenging the law, which goes into effect Thursday, was refiled last week. It added eight undocumented residents who plan to testify that they will face eviction from their landlords unless they provide legal identification, such as a social security card, as required by the new law.

The other plaintiffs include the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and two churches.

Last week, U.S. District Judge James H. Payne dismissed the plaintiff's first lawsuit, saying they could not prove the law damaged them. The hearing on the preliminary injunction is set before the same judge.

"If the judge does not do the preliminary injunction, here's a primary example of eight people who will be evicted," said Rohit Sharma, attorney for the plaintiffs.

Considered one of the toughest in the nation, House Bill 1804 creates barriers for undocumented immigrants to receive public benefits and jobs. It also makes it illegal to transport or harbor illegal immigrants, making violations a felony punishable by a minimum of one year in prison or a $1,000 fine.

Sebastian Lantos, a court-certified Spanish interpreter and Tulsa community activist, says House Bill 1804 will cause the economy to suffer and further divide the community.

Thousands of Hispanics already have left the city ahead of the new law taking effect.

"The worst thing to me is that we lost a sense of belonging to the city," Lantos said. "We see our neighbors leaving, we see the unfairness.â€

â€œThe mentality of the community has to change," said Lantos.

The author of the legislation, Representative Randy Terrill, R-Moore, said Monday he remained confident the bill will hold up in court.

"We're talking about a group of people who have had five or six months to plaintiff shop, forum shop and judge shop to find somebody who is sympathetic to their cause," Terrill said.

Last month, five Democratic state lawmakers asked Attorney General Drew Edmondson to clarify several provisions of the measure. Because there were about two dozen questions, an opinion from the office appears unlikely before Thursday.

To learn more about House Bill 1804, click here.