Churches Pledge Defiance As Oklahoma's New Immigration Law Takes Effect

Oklahoma's new HB 1804 that makes it a felony to harbor, house, conceal or transport illegal aliens, goes into effect today. The new law also requires state contractors to check on workers' immigration status and denies various state benefits to illegal immigrants. According to the Tulsa World, a federal judge late yesterday afternoon issued a ruling denying a preliminary injunction requested by opponents of the law. (See prior posting.) At Gov. Brad Henry's office in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Richard Klinge, a representative of Catholic Charities, delivered over a thousand signed pledges to oppose and defy the law. (Joplin Globe report.) Most of the pledges were from from members of the predominantly Hispanic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Klinge said: "The Catholic Church will not quit serving the needs of the poor. The Catholic Church will be there for them."