An apparent agreement would allow a check of the immigration status of suspects in felony arrests.

Mayor Kathy Taylor and at least a majority of the City Council seem to have reached an agreement for Tulsa police to check the immigration status of people arrested on suspicion of felonies.

The council will vote on a resolution in support of the policy at its 6 p.m. Thursday meeting.

"The compromise proposed provides a proactive and a very clear policy for the Police Department regarding enforcement," Taylor said during Tuesday's council committee meetings, which were packed with Hispanic leaders.

"But it also provides protection if a person feels that they have been wrongly detained regarding their immigration status."

The council's proposed resolution, sponsored by Councilors John Eagleton, Dennis Troyer, Cason Carter and Rick Westcott, states that a person's immigration status should be checked by police if there is a felony arrest.

It also says the proper federal agency should be notified within 24 hours if that status is found to be unlawful.

Taylor added language that specifies anyone who feels he or she has been wrongly jailed because of a status check can file a complaint with the city's Human Rights Department, which is monitored by a citizen-led commission.

"This is an issue we need to address, but we certainly need to do it humanely and in a way that does not cause fear or harm to any specific class of people," the mayor said.

"We are the ones on the front line of this issue," she said.

Sebastian Lantos of the Governor's Advisory Council on Latin American and Hispanic Affairs spoke on behalf of the crowd gathered at the meeting.

Lantos said no one is against this being done for those who are arrested in felonies. But he expressed concern that it would be taken too far.

"There is a great fear of this happening within the Hispanic community," he said.

Eagleton said: "We're not targeting people who are here unlawfully. We're targeting people who are here unlawfully who have also been arrested for a felony."

Westcott assured the group that "this doesn't empower our police to knock on doors and ask for your papers."

Carter said he doesn't understand how anyone could be opposed to a resolution that is about enforcing the laws that are already on the books.

Taylor said the policy is "a good transition point" for the city to begin complying with House Bill 1804, which was signed by Gov. Brad Henry two weeks ago and goes into effect Nov. 1.

The immigration reform package makes it a felony to transport, conceal or shelter an illegal immigrant from detection.

The Oklahoma Attorney General will advise municipalities on what they are required to do based on the legislation, Taylor said, but this is one step that needs to happen.

The policy will not affect the value Tulsa places on diversity, she pledged.

"One of the greatest assets of Tulsa is the richness of our cultural diversity," the mayor said. "We need to not mix this resolution with our core values. I don't want anyone to think that is a value Tulsa has lost."

Alice Blue, chairwoman of the city's Human Rights Commission, said her group would like Tulsa officials to wait on the resolution until after the mandate from HB 1804 is clear.

"I think this is putting the cart before the horse," she said.

Councilor Jack Henderson expressed concern that the policy could lead to racial profiling.

"I know, at least in the African-American community, racial profiling is alive and well in Tulsa," Henderson said.

Councilor Maria Barnes questioned why the resolution is necessary since Tulsa Jail officials already check the immigration status of people who are booked on felony complaints.

Other councilors argued that it is important to have a specific city policy in place.

Interim Police Chief David Bostrom declined to comment on the proposal until after the council votes on it.

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com

Resolution highlights

• Police would check the immigration status of people arrested in felonies.

• If the status is determined to be unlawful, the appropriate federal agency would be notified within 24 hours.

• Individuals may file a complaint with the city's Human Rights Department if they feel they have been wrongly arrested or jailed as a result of an immigration status check.