Okla. Immigration Law Blamed for Death

alex1234 · 01-26-2008, 04:16 PM

TULSA, Okla. — Edgar Castorena had diarrhea for 10 days and counting, and the illegal immigrant parents of the 2-month-old didn't know what to do about it.

They were afraid they would be deported under a new Oklahoma law if they took him to a major hospital. By the time they took him to a clinic, it was too late.

A ruptured intestine that might have been treatable instead killed the U.S.-born infant, making him a poster child for opponents of House Bill 1804 months before it was enacted as the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007.

"The sad part of it was the child didn't have to die if House Bill 1804 didn't ever come around," said Laurie Paul, who runs the clinic where Edgar was finally taken. "It was a total tragedy because the bill was there to create the myths and untruths and the fear."

The law, billed by its backers as the nation's toughest legislation against illegal immigration, took effect Nov. 1. It bars illegal immigrants from obtaining jobs or state assistance and makes it a felony to harbor or transport illegal immigrants.

A final portion of the law goes into effect July 1, requiring private companies to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires.

h3wlett · 01-26-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex1234

TULSA, Okla. — Edgar Castorena had diarrhea for 10 days and counting, and the illegal immigrant parents of the 2-month-old didn't know what to do about it.

They were afraid they would be deported under a new Oklahoma law if they took him to a major hospital. By the time they took him to a clinic, it was too late.

A ruptured intestine that might have been treatable instead killed the U.S.-born infant, making him a poster child for opponents of House Bill 1804 months before it was enacted as the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007.

"The sad part of it was the child didn't have to die if House Bill 1804 didn't ever come around," said Laurie Paul, who runs the clinic where Edgar was finally taken. "It was a total tragedy because the bill was there to create the myths and untruths and the fear."

The law, billed by its backers as the nation's toughest legislation against illegal immigration, took effect Nov. 1. It bars illegal immigrants from obtaining jobs or state assistance and makes it a felony to harbor or transport illegal immigrants.

A final portion of the law goes into effect July 1, requiring private companies to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires.

Sigh...

I can almost hear ALIPAC clapping and cheering for a "victory."

DISGUSTING.

01-26-2008, 05:46 PM

=( Can't they see that we're human too?

And I think the parents are just cowards, by the way. I would risk everything to save my kid's life.

HOPEFULDREAMER · 01-26-2008, 05:52 PM

What's sickening about this is that most of ALIPAC is more than likely pro-life. I wonder if they have mixed feelings about this situation.

Then again, I doubt it.

pingpong abyss · 01-26-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jourbalist

=( Can't they see that we're human too?

And I think the parents are just cowards, by the way. I would risk everything to save my kid's life.

It's possible that they realized it was a problem, but didn't realize how serious it was. Babies get diarrhea...sometimes it last for a couple days and then goes away. If it lasts a little longer, yeah, you should take them to a doctor, but I would never think my kid was going to die because he had diarrhea, unless he was going A LOT. But if they did realize it, and didn't go, then yeah, I think they need to get their priorities straight.

Still, this law is awful and this story is extremely side. I doubt this is the first time this has happened and it won't be the last. Maybe this is what it takes to get Oklahoma to shape up and realize that "illegals" are more than a stand in for the boogeyman, but bleed just as red as they do.

J6 · 01-26-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jourbalist

=( Can't they see that we're human too?

And I think the parents are just cowards, by the way. I would risk everything to save my kid's life.

I agree with that.

L1b3r4t3VosEx1nferis · 10:05 PM

Ummm.. Hi, I am new. I was reading a few comments and I thought you would be interested in reading the comments from this page <deleted>.

J6 · 01-26-2008, 10:07 PM

^Hmmm..what do YOU think about it?

pingpong abyss · 01-26-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L1b3r4t3VosEx1nferis

Ummm.. Hi, I am new. I was reading a few comments and I thought you would be interested in reading the comments from this page <deleted>.

New or not, that doesn't excuse you from reading the rules.

Quote:

I. Posting RULES

Never insult other users. If you have a problem with a post, report it to one of the moderators via PM.
No spamming
No trolling
Do not post information that encourages illegal activity (ie. marrying for papers, obtaining fake SS, fake id, or any other form of falsified documents etc. )
No links to or quotes from anti-immigrant sites.

Ayame · 01-27-2008, 02:28 AM

those comments are really offensive damn.

Still, the parents shoulve risked everything to save their child. Poor them though, i cant imagine the pain they must be going through. :[

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Okla. Immigration Law Blamed for Death