Worker impact seen

BY ALTHEA PETERSON World Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
10/31/07 at 11:50 AM

Watch a slide show and read all the stories in a series on the immigration of thousands of people from Casa Blanca to Tulsa.

Read all of the Tulsa World’s coverage of House Bill 1804.

Some Hispanics leaving state

Cherokee Builders has been in Oklahoma for 12 years, but a recent "significant problem" is already hurting it and other Oklahoma companies: Work force shortages.

"We used to see a whole bunch of them, Hispanic workers, 10 a week, applying for jobs," said Larry Creekmore, Cherokee Builders executive vice president. "We're maybe seeing one or two per week now."

Creekmore and other Oklahoma businesses have seen Hispanic workers, regardless of legal status, leave Oklahoma recently since the passage of House Bill 1804, a state anti-illegal immigration law.

Creekmore said his firm has always checked the legal status of employees, but said the law about to take effect seems to be affecting more than those for whom it is intended.

Legal Hispanic workers are leaving the state also.

"They're good workers," Creekmore said. "They're as good of a worker as an American, and if he's legal, he has just as much of a right to work as other Americans."

Rumors that there will be massive layoffs around Thursday, when HB 1804 is scheduled to take effect have also caused panic, said Francisco Trevino, executive director of the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

"Everybody's worried about losing their jobs," he said. "We've had calls about every three minutes about this law, it's been crazy. Everybody's been worried."

While there is no need to panic, this does not stop people from reacting, said Dick Anderson, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma.

"Despite the knee-jerk reaction of the Hispanic community, I don't believe there will be huge roundups," Anderson said.

He said there are many false rumors among the general public about the estimated 18 percent to 20 percent of construction workers in Oklahoma, who are Hispanic.

Hispanic workers aren't paid in cash to avoid taxes or kept in substandard housing, he said.

"They are hard workers and dependable,'' he said. ''They work from daylight to dark; they get the job done."

Under Tulsa city requirements, all Tulsa Vision Builders work, including the BOK Center, is done by workers who have had their identities and legal status verified, said Bart Boatwright, project director.

He said he thinks the areas that will have the greatest effect are smaller markets with less established contractors and companies.

"In the residential market, the ebb and flow of the business, whether they're busy or not busy, it's not a consistent work force," Boatwright said.

Most customers are not concerned about legal status of workers, but rather quality of work, dependability and business honesty, said Alejo Martinez, owner of All Mexican Roofing and Martinez Painting General Services.

Martinez said he's been living in Tulsa the past 28 years and is a naturalized citizen originally from Mexico. He said this time has helped him get connections to potential workers and establish his business.

"I know so many people, so if I lose one of my roofers who leaves for Mexico, I can always get another," Martinez said.

He said his name "All Mexican Roofers" is a play of the term "All-American," because the business "is mostly just me, and I'm Mexican."

Illegal immigration needs to stop, Anderson said, but Oklahoma should give immigrants the opportunity to work and benefit the state. Otherwise, there will be consequences when businesses are required to check legal status next year.

"You better figure out a gameplan to get these people here legally because if you don't, you will stop construction" in July 2008, Anderson said.

That's when state contractors are required to start checking the status of all employees under the law.

"It would be a shame to let something as petty as this destroy the economy in Oklahoma right now," Anderson said.

Cherokee Builders will not have to move out of state because of HB 1804, said Creekmore, who added that he does not support illegal immigration. However, without a work force, his firm will have to cut back on work.

"They just might feel Oklahoma is not friendly anymore," he said.

Althea Peterson 581-8361
althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com

What is House Bill 1804?

A state law passed by the last Oklahoma Legislature. It would:

Make it a state felony to knowingly transport illegal immigrants,

Create state barriers to hiring illegal immigrants,

Require state contractors to check the immigration status of workers,

Require proof of citizenship to receive certain government benefits.

What’s the argument?

Advocates say the bill is a necessary state effort to stop the flow of illegal aliens into Oklahoma.

Opponents say it is immoral and unconstitutional.

What’s going to happen next?

On Wednesday: U.S. District Judge James Payne will hear arguments about the law’s constitutionality. He could stop the state from implementing the law or do nothing.

On Wednesday: The United Front Task Force has scheduled a 6 p.m. candlelight vigil to protest the law at the plaza level of City Hall.

On Thursday: Another protest is planned for noon on the state Capitol steps.

On Thursday: The law is due to go into effect.

What happened Tuesday?

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said he had filed papers arguing that the lawsuit should not be heard because the people bringing the suit haven’t shown they have been hurt by the law.

One plaintiff in the case, Mexico Lindo Restaurant, said it wants out of the suit. The restaurant’s owner said he signed on to the case, but does not read English and did not understand his commitment.

Catholic Charities delivered 1,084 “Pledge of Resistance” letters to Gov. Brad Henry’s office.The letters says Catholic Charities will not quit serving poor people regardless of their immigration status.The letter also calls for the law’s repeal.

Where can I learn more?

Read all of the Tulsa World’s past stories on the issue and the law itself at www.tulsaworld.com/hb1804.

compiled by David Harper
David Harper, 581-8359
david.harper@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Victor Vargas works downtown. Construction company officials say it’s wrong to assume Hispanic workers are illegal workers.

Landscapers plant trees along Fourth Street. Many legal Hispanics are leaving the local work force because of House Bill 1804, some contractors say.