Study: State immigration law could cut economic production by $1.8 billion

Oklahoma's tough new immigration reform law could cut the state's economic production by $1.8 billion in the measure's first year, according to a study released today.

If HB 1804, labeled as the nation's toughest immigration law, drives 50,000 foreign-born workers out of Oklahoma, it would cause a 1.3 percent reduction in the gross state product, the report from Economic Impact Group LLC said. The Oklahoma Bankers Association commissioned the report by the Edmond company. However, bankers association chief executive officer Roger Beverage said his group takes no position on HB 1804.

The study estimated the long-term impact of the bill could be about $1.3 billion a year. Oklahoma's gross state product in 2007 was estimated at nearly $144 billion. Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, said a study of the measure's potential impact should have been performed before the Legislature adopted HB 1804 last year.

"We acted too quickly," Coates said. "We passed the toughest immigration reform bill in the country, but this was the result."