Dear Editor,

I don’t know if many people are aware that there are two bills currently under consideration. Both of these bills will affect all of the immigrants in this state.

And there is Federal HB 4437 which set precedence when it passed the House of Representatives on December 16, 2005, it is currently in the Senate.

The main purpose of this bill is to rid the United States of any and all “illegal aliens.” Unlawful presence in the U.S. will now be classified as a crime and a “felony.”

So those who are victims of human trafficking, those fleeing from abuse and hunger, will be classed as criminals, thereby making them further oppressed.

I cannot help but think of scriptures Exodus Ex 22:21-23…And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them at all, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry.”

I would like for God to hear the cry of the Christian people in the City of Pauls Valley with regard to this bill. Get on-line and check them out, you will have a better idea of what’s going on.

This bill also requires documentation before you can assist anyone in need. The doctors, nurses, hospital staff and people of this community didn’t miss a beat when the El Conejo accident happened.

No one thought about documentation, no one hesitated to share their compassion and kindness to these strangers in our city.

I pray that this bill will be shot down in the Senate.

I understand that these bills have been put together to protect our nation’s borders from foreigners, yet 44 or 45 ports are owned by foreigners.

And, while we claim to protect our borders, one third of the United States is foreign owned by people who have money and no citizenship.

I don’t understand the cry of protecting our borders from the immigrant workers who come to feed their families; they come with empty stomachs and their children, not with pistols and bombs.

The Mexican people were not part of 9-11 nor of the Oklahoma City bombing.

But, we ask them to carry documentation with them to prove if they are legal. All Latino people will be required.

How will we know the citizens from those immigrants without citizenship? Perhaps we will all be card carrying citizens.

One person said to me this week that the only thing missing from the (Federal HB 4437 and Okla State HB 3119 is the “gold star” because only ethnic people will be targeted.

These laws will require everyone who assists people in need to ask for documentation, even religious leaders.

I would ask that you keep the legislature (Federal and State) in prayer as they develop the laws to protect our nation. Pray that our laws will be tempered with love, mercy and justice.

Pastor Perla Martinez-Goody

San Mateo United Methodist Mission