Oklahoma's "Son of 1804"

This is from a state that has the honor of getting those transplanted Native Americans who were banished from their lands. Son of 1804 has been suggested by one state legislator I will not name. The proposed law will make other states' anti-immigration measures look like chld's play. And here, at least the Oklahoman is saying that Son of 1804 is too much. But the paper's criteria is the cost and time, not ethics.


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Mon November 12, 2007
Slow down: Too soon for more immigration law
The Oklahoman Editorial

OKLAHOMANS have barely begun to understand the practical implications of the state's new immigration reform law, and its author is promising even more such reform in the coming legislative session.


House Bill 1804 took effect Nov. 1. Within days, those with expired driver's licenses got a taste of the newest layer of immigration-related bureaucracy. Oklahomans who renew their licenses before they expire have nothing to worry about. But those who let their license lapse or are seeking an upgrade to a commercial driver's license must provide proof of residence to an examiner. That means rounding up a birth certificate, passport or naturalization certificate and taking a trip to a driver testing station — rarely a pleasant experience.

The easy answer is not to forget about renewal, which is easier said than done since the state no longer sends out renewal reminders. This example is just a small taste of HB 1804's potential consequences for those here legally. The big and more costly issues lie ahead.

Unfortunately, Rep. Randy Terrill is too excited about publicity over what some are calling the nation's toughest immigration law. So now he's promising the "son of HB 1804” will take aim at children of illegal immigrants. He wants public schools to start keeping tabs on such children. He also wants to forbid noncitizen mothers from getting subsidized prenatal care and not issue traditional birth certificates to their children who are born in Oklahoma.

Our advice: Slow down. Legal challenges to HB 1804 need to be sorted out. State and local governments are still figuring out how to enforce it, and we don't know yet what the costs — in money and time — will be.

It would be best for the federal government to craft comprehensive immigration reform. Meantime, state lawmakers shouldn't hurry with new laws until we better understand the consequences of the one already on the books.

http://newsok.com/article/keyword/3167970/