Turmoil in Tulsa
MSNBC in a report titled “Turmoil in Tulsa: The illegal immigration wreck” presents a reasonably balanced report on the current situation regarding illegal immigration in Tulsa.
No one is happy with the current state of affairs and this report does provide at least passing attention to the several “sides” of the issue, including the political battle that is going on behind the scenes between 1st District Congressman John Sullivan and Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.
Congressman Sullivan wants the Tulsa Police Department to determine the immigration status of all suspected illegal aliens with whom it comes in contact. Mayor Taylor wants such inquires conducted only in those instances of arrests for felony or misdemeanors that result in a trip to jail. Previously the Tulsa Police department did not ask at all.
Congressman Sullivan claims that Tulsa is a “sanctuary city” and in reality it has been since long before Mayor Taylor was elected.
With between 40,000 and 50,000 Hispanics in Tulsa’s 380,000 population there is little doubt that something has attracted them here.
While jobs are the primary draw of immigrants, legal or illegal, the fact remains that for years Tulsa has maintained a “Don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to the status of immigrants. A policy which continues to this day and which has resulted in the explosive growth of Tulsa’s Hispanic community.
It is rare that Oklahoma in general and Tulsa in particular are at the forefront of any significant social movement. HB1804, the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 has put Oklahoma at the forefront of the states’ battle to deal with illegal immigration.
Tulsa’s battle over illegal immigration has put Tulsa at the forefront of the debate over just how far we as a society are willing to go to preserve our nation, our way of life and our society.
And honestly, don’t you think it is about time that we start determining how many of that 40,000 to 50,000 immigrants are here illegally?
