09-22-2007, 11:52 PM
[cool]Terrill Predicts Law Cracking Down on Illegal Aliens Will Withstand Legal Review [url "http://www.okhouse.gov/okhousemedia/PrintStory.aspx?NewsID=1289"]![[Image: printer.gif]](http://www.okhouse.gov/okhousemedia/images/printer.gif)
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Contact: State Rep. Randy Terrill
Capitol: (405) 557-7346
OKLAHOMA CITY – State [url "http://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/Member.aspx?MemberID=69"]Rep. Randy Terrill [/url]today predicted House Bill 1804, the new state law that eliminates most taxpayer subsidies for illegal aliens, will withstand a potential court challenge sponsored by rogue, liberal interest groups.
"We’re going to mount a vigorous defense of the law," said Terrill, a Moore Republican who authored House Bill 1804. "I’m 99.9 percent confident that this bill will withstand any legal challenge brought against it. House Bill 1804 is not pre-empted by federal law. It does not exceed the scope of state authority in this area and is designed to sync perfectly with federal immigration law."
Several radical, left-wing organizations, such as the Mexican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund and the ACLU, are involved in the effort to invalidate House Bill 1804.
Terrill said Oklahoma officials are working with the Immigration Reform Law Institute to prepare a defense of the statute. He said a recent judicial ruling striking down a Pennsylvania city ordinance designed to curb illegal immigration will have little or no impact in Oklahoma.
"House Bill 1804 is very different from the Hazelton ordinance," Terrill said. "It is a much more carefully calibrated measure, and it is unlikely the Hazelton ruling will have any significant legal impact on House Bill 1804."
Terrill issued his statement following a press conference where officials with the United Front Task Force announced they will seek to have the law overturned in court and are launching a public relations blitz criticizing the popular law.
"House Bill 1804 is now the law of the land. It obviously represents the clear will of the people of Oklahoma, and it passed the Legislature by an overwhelming, bipartisan and veto-proof majority," Terrill said. "It doesn’t matter if opponents put up two billboard or 200 billboards, that won’t change the fact that House Bill 1804 is the law and will be enforced beginning on November 1."
He said critics fail to understand the clear intent of the law.
"This issue isn’t about whether you are for or against immigration, or for or against immigrants," Terrill said. "It doesn’t matter what your skin color is or if you speak with an accent. What matters is if you are in this country legally or illegally. The only people threatened by House Bill 1804 are those who choose to break the law."
Terrill noted that many of the groups involved in the legal challenge appear to be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations.
"If they want to take private dollars and use them for any cause – including the promotion of illegal immigration – they are certainly free to do so," Terrill said. "House Bill 1804 only deals with the use of taxpayer dollars. Just as Oklahoma taxpayers cannot be forced to subsidize elective abortions, they should not be forced to subsidize illegal aliens who willfully break state and federal law."
He also expressed concern those groups may be acting outside the scope of their mission and could possibly face serious consequences as a result.
"These groups are walking a very fine line," Terrill said. "At best, they are giving a
and nod to illegal activity and at worst they may be aiding and abetting it. If we were talking about any activity other than illegal immigration, these organizations would probably be facing conspiracy and racketeering charges. At the very least, these groups may be jeopardizing their tax-exempt status by engaging in prohibited political activity."
State lawmakers voted this year to approve Terrill’s House Bill 1804, which bans illegal aliens from obtaining official state government IDs – such as driver’s licenses, terminates most public assistance and entitlement benefits for illegal aliens, grants state and local law enforcement officials the authority to enforce federal immigration law, and enacts employer penalties for knowingly hiring illegal aliens.
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[/url] Contact: State Rep. Randy Terrill
Capitol: (405) 557-7346
OKLAHOMA CITY – State [url "http://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/Member.aspx?MemberID=69"]Rep. Randy Terrill [/url]today predicted House Bill 1804, the new state law that eliminates most taxpayer subsidies for illegal aliens, will withstand a potential court challenge sponsored by rogue, liberal interest groups.
"We’re going to mount a vigorous defense of the law," said Terrill, a Moore Republican who authored House Bill 1804. "I’m 99.9 percent confident that this bill will withstand any legal challenge brought against it. House Bill 1804 is not pre-empted by federal law. It does not exceed the scope of state authority in this area and is designed to sync perfectly with federal immigration law."
Several radical, left-wing organizations, such as the Mexican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund and the ACLU, are involved in the effort to invalidate House Bill 1804.
Terrill said Oklahoma officials are working with the Immigration Reform Law Institute to prepare a defense of the statute. He said a recent judicial ruling striking down a Pennsylvania city ordinance designed to curb illegal immigration will have little or no impact in Oklahoma.
"House Bill 1804 is very different from the Hazelton ordinance," Terrill said. "It is a much more carefully calibrated measure, and it is unlikely the Hazelton ruling will have any significant legal impact on House Bill 1804."
Terrill issued his statement following a press conference where officials with the United Front Task Force announced they will seek to have the law overturned in court and are launching a public relations blitz criticizing the popular law.
"House Bill 1804 is now the law of the land. It obviously represents the clear will of the people of Oklahoma, and it passed the Legislature by an overwhelming, bipartisan and veto-proof majority," Terrill said. "It doesn’t matter if opponents put up two billboard or 200 billboards, that won’t change the fact that House Bill 1804 is the law and will be enforced beginning on November 1."
He said critics fail to understand the clear intent of the law.
"This issue isn’t about whether you are for or against immigration, or for or against immigrants," Terrill said. "It doesn’t matter what your skin color is or if you speak with an accent. What matters is if you are in this country legally or illegally. The only people threatened by House Bill 1804 are those who choose to break the law."
Terrill noted that many of the groups involved in the legal challenge appear to be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations.
"If they want to take private dollars and use them for any cause – including the promotion of illegal immigration – they are certainly free to do so," Terrill said. "House Bill 1804 only deals with the use of taxpayer dollars. Just as Oklahoma taxpayers cannot be forced to subsidize elective abortions, they should not be forced to subsidize illegal aliens who willfully break state and federal law."
He also expressed concern those groups may be acting outside the scope of their mission and could possibly face serious consequences as a result.
"These groups are walking a very fine line," Terrill said. "At best, they are giving a
and nod to illegal activity and at worst they may be aiding and abetting it. If we were talking about any activity other than illegal immigration, these organizations would probably be facing conspiracy and racketeering charges. At the very least, these groups may be jeopardizing their tax-exempt status by engaging in prohibited political activity." State lawmakers voted this year to approve Terrill’s House Bill 1804, which bans illegal aliens from obtaining official state government IDs – such as driver’s licenses, terminates most public assistance and entitlement benefits for illegal aliens, grants state and local law enforcement officials the authority to enforce federal immigration law, and enacts employer penalties for knowingly hiring illegal aliens.
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