Monday, December 3, 2007

Beware of Son of HB 1804

As most Oklahomans should be aware, the state Legislature last session passed House Bill 1804, a bill that created what are called the most restrictive laws against people who are undocumented in the country. This measure makes it illegal "transport, harbor and conceal" undocumented people from "detection" and denies driver's licenses and publid aid to anyone who isn't in Oklahoma legally.

The author of the bill, state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, is planning "the son of HB 1804," in which U.S. citizenship is denied to children born in Oklahoma of undocumented parents getting rid of, "birthright citizenship" (then explain yours, Mr. Terrill, for did you not get your citizenship through your birth in the U.S.? Shall Oklahoma challenge the U.S. Constitution?). It also will deny taxpayer-funded prenatal care to pregnant women who are not documented, and creates "transparency in our public school systems."

Thankfully, HB 1804 is not receiving the support it once did, now that it's being fully enacted. Now that people are seeing its real human (and economic, sadly, this IS what gets people's attention) costs. And after all, now when you go to the DMV to renew your licence, you'll have to prove that you're a documented resident. People who never ever had to worry about having to prove their legal status are getting a little fed up with have to deal with a small slice of this bureaucratic and civil rights nightmare.

And some of the legislators who voted for HB 1804 are calling for more humanitarian, common-sensical changes. Folks, not only do we have to work to sweep out HB 1804, we also need to stop the Son of HB 1804 from getting its birthright citzenship in this state. Call, write, pester Rep. Terrill. Be courteous, but be firm.

Here's how to find him:
Capitol Address:
2300 Lincoln Blvd. Room 407
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7346

District Address:
612 S. W. 12th Street
Moore, OK 73160

Email: randyterrill@okhouse.gov
Find story on HB 1804 at NewsOK here.
Cross-posted at Border Reflections.

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