Tulsa City Council Wants To Discourage The Hiring Of Illegals

A crackdown against Tulsa city contractors hiring illegal immigrants. <br/><br/>Thursday night, the Tulsa city council voted for a resolution to discourage the hiring of workers who can't prove they

Thursday, November 2nd 2006, 6:07 am

By: News On 6

A crackdown against Tulsa city contractors hiring illegal immigrants.

Thursday night, the Tulsa city council voted for a resolution to discourage the hiring of workers who can't prove they are in the country legally.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan say after hearing from several residents who opposed the resolution, the council passed it.

There were questions about whether there is anyone to enforce it and if it's anything other than just a political issue that won't make any real difference.

Guillermo Rojas is a successful businessman now, but 20 years ago he came to America with only the desire to succeed. "I came to work waiting tables and working the kitchen at Casa Laredo, and now I have a newspaper, a magazine, a translation company, because this land is the land of opportunities. But I was undocumented for almost ten years."

Rojas is now an American citizen, with a business and 20 employees in his publishing company. He's also an advocate for Tulsa Hispanic immigrants - helping them speak out. He believes most undocumented workers are here just as he was - to find opportunity and live the American dream. "We are a positive influence for the country, we are not thieves, we are not bad people, we are not trying to take over the USA."

Tulsa city councilor Bill Christiansen: "By discussing and bringing it up publicly, it lets the contractors know we are going to hold them responsible to hiring documented people. And I do believe the city of Tulsa should set the example for hiring properly documented workers."

The resolution only applies to companies working for the city of Tulsa. It would ban contractors from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.