Group Sets Up Fund To Fight Immigration Law

Tuesday, July 31st 2007, 2:25 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The principal sponsor of a new law that seeks to curb public benefits and deny jobs to illegal immigrants is upset that a Tulsa-based group plans a legal challenge to the measure.

The ``Say No to 1804 Legal Defense Fund'' has been established by a group calling itself the United Front Task Force.

Rep. Randy Terrill defended House Bill 1804 and demanded that the group opposing it identify its financial supporters.

Terrill, R-Moore, said a loophole allows political action to be taken by setting up a legal defense fund, when other committees that engage in political activity are required to report donations.

The lawmaker said his bill passed the House and Senate by overwhelming majorities and was signed by the governor, making it clear that ``it is the will of the people'' that the law be enforced.

``And yet we have this rogue group working in secret, hiding behind a legal technicality to engage in what is clearly political activity,'' he said.

``This group is trying to use the judiciary to indirectly accomplish a goal they cannot achieve through the political process.''

Juan Miret, spokesman for the United Front Task Force, said he had no comment at this time on Terrill's demand that donors be disclosed.

``It will be addressed by our legal team and be released to the media,'' he said.

He said the organization has received many telephone calls and e-mails and thousands of visits to its Web site since it went up Saturday.

According to Miret, the group's first billboard will be erected on Wednesday asking the question: ``Is it OK for Oklahoma to have a law that promotes hate among people?''

He declined to say what legal action the group plans against the bill, but said that will be discussed at a Wednesday news conference that will include a statement by David Bernstein, director of community relations for the Jewish Federation of Tulsa.

Other organizations supporting the group, Merit said, are the Tulsa Interfaith Alliance, the Tulsa Indian Coalition, the Islamic Society of Tulsa, the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, the YWCA of Tulsa, the Tulsa Urban League, the NAACP, Pastors for Peace and Oklahomans for Equality.

Among other things, the law seeks to block illegal immigrants from getting jobs by imposing tighter screening procedures on employers. It also seeks to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to obtain public benefits, but would not affect emergency medical services.

Most of the opposition to the measure came from Hispanic organizations and groups that are involved in humanitarian efforts in Hispanic communities.

The law, hailed as one of the toughest among the states on illegal immigrants, was criticized last month by Mike Seney, a vice president with The State Chamber, which represents businesses across the state.

Seney's group worked to delay the effective date of provisions affecting private employers until July 1, 2008.

Seney said Oklahoma companies who employ illegal immigrants still can face stiff penalties under the new law, but he said employers will not be penalized if they use a federal Status Verification System to check their employees.

When Gov. Brad Henry signed the bill, he said it should be watched to make sure it does not have unintended consequences. Henry said illegal immigration is a serious security problem that must be solved by the federal government.

Related stories:

3/5/2007 Green Country Hispanics Fight New Immigration Bill

4/3/2007 Controversial Immigration Bill Closer To Becoming Law

4/16/2007 State Senate Approves Sweeping Immigration Legislation

4/19/2007 Hispanics Speak Out Against Immigration Legislation

5/1/2007 State House Sends Immigration Reform Bill To The Governor

5/1/2007 Hispanic Leaders Say State Immigration Bill Will Not Work

5/2/2007 Governor Henry Still Undecided On Immigration Reform Bill

5/8/2007 Governor Signs Sweeping Immigration Reform Bill

5/8/2007 Controversial Immigration Bill Signed Into Law

5/9/2007 Local Business Could See A Boost Thanks To A New Immigration Law

5/9/2007 Immigration Law Creates New Rules For Oklahoma Employers

5/22/2007 Tulsa City Council Mulls Immigration Plan

5/24/2007 Still No Decision In Tulsa Immigration Plan

5/25/2007 City Council Passes New Immigration Ordinance

5/31/2007 Key Officials Meet To Discuss The City's Immigration Policy

6/2/2007 Debate Continues On Immigration Reform

6/2/2007 Tackling The Immigration Issue

6/19/2007 State Chamber Critical Of New Law