A piece of legislation went into effect on Nov. 1, 2007 in Oklahoma with the aim of destroying the ability of undocumented immigrants to work and live. This is part of a rising wave of anti-immigrant legislation that is tasking place throughout the United States.
The new law is seen as one of the toughest anti-immigrant laws in the country. It allows local and state authorities to enforce federal immigration law and prohibits anyone from offering housing or even a ride to undocumented immigrants. (Kansas City Star, Jan. 25, 2008)
More specifically, the law prohibits immigrants from getting jobs or receiving state assistance and makes it a felony to harbor of transport undocumented workers. Anyone who helps undocumented workers—knowingly or unknowingly—may be found guilty of a felony punishable by a year in prison or a $1,000 fine.
According to the Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as many as 25,000 immigrants have left northeastern Oklahoma alone due to the new state law. (AP, Jan. 25)
Oklahoma is not the only state bowing to heightened anti-immigrant hysteria. In Missouri and Kansas, the state legislatures are proposing similar laws that will increase the offensive against undocumented workers. Legislators in Colorado, Nebraska, and Arkansas are also pushing proposals that will terrorize immigrant communities and worksites.
“More than half the nation will soon be modeling Oklahoma’s bill,” said Republican state representative and bill author Randy Terrill. Terrill plans to propose a companion piece this year that would make English the state’s official language.
Last year, more than 1,500 pieces of immigration-related legislation were introduced throughout the country, with 244 becoming law in 46 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The Oklahoma bill and others contain criminalization provisions resembling those of H.R. 4437—the U.S. House of Representatives bill that set in motion the 2006 immigrant rights movement that smashed the proposal.
Capitalist politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties share the same fundamentally reactionary orientation toward the immigrant community, and are not entertaining any possibility for comprehensive immigration reform in a presidential election year. Republicans continue their ongoing push for tougher security on the U.S.-Mexico border, training state and local law enforcement and terrorizing immigrants with racist raids and deportations.
Certain sectors of the immigrant rights movement are putting their weight behind Democratic Party presidential candidates in hopes that the Democrats will help advance their struggle. However, despite making occasional concessions to please Latino voters, the Democrats are no more interested than the Republicans in seeking legalization and equality for the millions of immigrants.
Only a resurgence of the immigrant rights struggle has the potential to achieve the goals of justice and equality. No capitalist politician—Democrat or Republican—will pass laws ensuring immigrants’ rights until the pressure from the movement becomes unbearable for the ruling class. The movement must continue raising the banner of legalization and full rights for all immigrants.
