Fri, Sep 05 2008
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Published November 23, 2007 12:42 pm - For all the fear and consternation the state's new immigration law has created, its bark is bigger than its bite, according to local legislators. Local legislators find immigration law lacking First in a two-part series: Despite supporting H.B. 1804, Sen. Jim Wilson and Rep. Mike Brown find the law disappointing, creating more fear than security. By TEDDYE SNELL tsnell@tahlequahdailypress.com TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — For all the fear and consternation the state's new immigration law has created, its bark is bigger than its bite, according to local legislators.
"It's a do-nothing, political bill," said Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah. "It has created a lot of fear and that fear may have certain repercussions, but as far as illegal immigration enforcement is concerned, the bill itself merely mirrors federal laws already in place." On May 7, Gov. Brad Henry signed the controversial Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007, known as one of the strictest illegal immigration laws in the country. The bill eliminates illegal aliens' ability to get official government identification cards, such as a driver's license or occupational license. It also prevents illegal aliens from obtaining public benefits or assistance other than what is required by federal law, such as education and emergency medical care. Wilson sat on the task force examining the immigration issue prior to the bill's passage, and found the general public has a number of misconceptions about the benefits and the cost illegal immigrants pose the state. "It's a sensitive issue," said Wilson. "But the task force information showed the state spent roughly $8 million on Medicaid last year, with 80 percent of that total being spent on delivering babies. The state has no control over how Medicaid is spent, as two-thirds of the funding is provided by the federal government." Education is another area in which Wilson believes the state is losing money. He said the Legislature cannot possibly know what kind of effect immigration is having on education spending, since privacy rights of students are protected under the law. While health care and education may have been a spending issue, Wilson said illegal immigrants have not affected the overall bottom line. "We collect unemployment insurance, state and federal withholding taxes and Social Security [from working illegals]," he said. "Illegal immigrants are paying into these, but are unable to collect benefits. Dollar for dollar, we're making money on them." Wilson said studies have shown the effects of illegal immigration on the earning power of legal residents is minimal. High school graduates and college graduates actually make slightly more money because of illegal workers, while those who haven't graduated from high school earn about 2 percent less than they would if all illegal workers were to suddenly disappear. Wilson voted for the measure for two reasons: wages and the law. "Hiring illegal immigrants depresses wages," he said. "I voted for the bill for that reason, and for the simple fact that illegal immigrants are just that - illegal, meaning against the law." Wilson believes the only way to really affect change in illegal immigration is to sanction employers hiring undocumented workers. "We'll see more on this in June or July of next year," he said. "We'll have more control if the job market for illegals is stopped. If you dry up the jobs, you won't need to worry about deportation -- they will leave." Wilson said the new law presents myriad logistical problems for law enforcement. 
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