Big business has scored a victory for the continuted explotation of illegal foreign nationals who work for slave labor. It's a temporary order but this likely may become permanent. If this happens, citizens and the state of Oklahoma, I guess, will have no recourse but to allow illegals to take over jobs held by Oklahomans.
Just as Oklahoma was starting to show that keeping order helped reduce our unemployment to the lowest in the nation. BUT the state says it is ready to fight for the rule of law as this goes forward. YEAH!!!
A federal judge today blocked enforcement of employer-related provisions of the state's controversial immigration law, ruling it likely interferes with federal regulations regarding the hiring of unauthorized workers.
Several business groups challenged House Bill 1804 — which has been called the toughest immigration statute in the nation — in federal court in Oklahoma City.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The State Chamber, the Oklahoma City and Tulsa chambers of commerce, and the Oklahoma restaurant and hotel and lodging associations contend the law places unreasonable burdens on businesses, according to the lawsuit filed Feb. 1 by the National Chamber Litigation Center.
"We applaud the court's decision to delay enforcing these portions of Oklahoma's immigration law," said Robin Conrad, the center's executive vice president. "Through harsh civil penalties, the Oklahoma law unfairly shifts the burden of immigration enforcement from government onto the backs of businesses.
"Piecemeal state legislation is not the answer to our nation's immigration problems."
The groups' lawsuit still is pending in federal court in Oklahoma City, even though U.S. District Judge Robin Cauthron agreed to halt enforcement of a provision of the new law that would have required companies to verify the eligibility status of all new employees.
That provision was set to go into effect July 1.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson issued this statement: “This is a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling. In her order, the judge writes that ‘the Court finds Plaintiffs have established a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of the case.’ We will attempt to overcome this hurdle when the matter is set for hearing on the permanent injunction.”
