VOICE-OKC Leaders Decry Overbroad Language of Anti-Immigrant HB 4156

On Thursday April 18th VOICE-OKC hosted a press conference denouncing the passage of HB 4156 and the way it opens the door for targeting members within Latino communities, regardless of their documented status.  Those in opposition include the Most Rev. Paul S Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Fr. Tim Luschen of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, the Rev. Dr. Lori Walke of Mayflower Congregational Church and 20 other pastors across the state.  

[Excerpt from The Oklahoman]

...[S]piritual leaders like Coakley and the Rev. Tim Luschen, president of Voices Organized In Community Engagement, known as VOICE, hope [Governor] Stitt rejects the bill because it will harm "hard-working" people who are some of the community's most vulnerable. Coakley described the measure as deeply flawed because it fails to "consider the humanity of the men, women and families immigrating to the United States."

[Excerpt from Oklahoma News 4]

“It’s going to be something that could affect everyone. It’s not just immigrants. I’m a U.S. citizen. I have children. My boys could get affected. My grandchildren. I have nephews and nieces. They could also be targeted. It’s not a fair thing because how can you distinguish one from the other?,” asked Oklahoma City resident [and VOICE-OKC leader] Irma Palacios.

[In Photos: Irma Palacios, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church of Christ, Fabiola Ramirez, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Fr. Tim Luschen, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Rev. Dr. Lori Walke, Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, Sr. Diane Koorie, Sisters of Mercy/Mercy Associates,Maureen Harvey, First Unitarian Church]

Statement from Archbishop Paul S. Coakley [pdf]

Group of Oklahoman Faith Leaders Speak Out Against Immigration Bill, The Oklahoman [pdf]

‘Scares Me to Death’: OK House Passes Bill Criminalizing Illegal Immigrants, Oklahoma News 4 [pdf]

Actualización de la Ley HB 4156, Telemundo Tulsa [pdf]