IT’S ABOUT TIME

For several years the issue of illegal immigration has been a hot topic in this country. During that time many politicians have turned a blind eye to the problem with the rationale that the illegal workers are doing the work that Americans citizens don’t want to do. I agree that much of the harvesting of produce is done by illegals. We Americans, when compared to the rest of the world, have an abundant and inexpensive source of food. While we may think we are getting a bargain by getting produce a little cheaper, we have failed to see the hidden costs. The illegals have added strain to our health care system, our education system and a host of other programs in this country.

I have no problem with people coming to this country to work, but I expect our government to document those individuals and require them to obey our laws. In the Oklahoma Legislature, House Bill 1804 has passed the House and the Senate and it will soon be before the governor to make the final decision on this bill. House Bill 1804, by State Rep Randy Terrill, creates the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007. HB 1804 has the support of two national immigration reform advocacy groups and has been labeled one of the nation's toughest anti-illegal immigration laws. Key elements of the bill focus on determining work eligibility. The measure also contains provisions to ensure taxpayer-supported benefits are made available to American citizens and legal immigrants only. The bill also gives state and local law enforcement officials the power to enforce federal immigration law. 

We have laws in place for people wanting to come into this country legally. How can we expect people to go to the trouble of meeting the requirements to come here legally when we have been ignoring those laws and not stopping illegal immigration? In my opinion our federal government should have stepped up to the plate a long time before now. Hopefully other states will model laws after Representative Terrill’s bill and bring some order to our problem.