[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 170 (Monday, November 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H12482-H12483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
OKLAHOMA IS OK WITH NEW IMMIGRATION LAW
(Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, there is a new immigration law in effect, and
even Federal judges refused to stop it.
On November 1 it became a felony to knowingly harbor and hide
illegals. It is against the law to give illegals driver's licenses or
give them public benefits. Local police may now hold illegals
[[Page H12483]]
they arrest for felonies and detain them for Federal deportation. And
employers must use the new Federal verification system to determine
legal status of workers.
This, unfortunately, is not a new Federal law, but one passed
recently by the Sooner State: Oklahoma. Apparently, Okies are
frustrated with too few results from Federal enforcement folk so they
passed their own State law on immigration.
And good for them. Hopefully, other States will follow.
Of course, noncitizen groups and the ``give America away'' crowd sued
Oklahoma in Federal court. And they lost. Early results of the law
indicate illegals are leaving Oklahoma, some even going back to their
own country, as it ought to be. They are getting the message: come to
America the legal way or don't come at all.
And that's just the way it is.
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