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Judge OKs deal on Oklahoma immigration law

A judgment signed Wednesday by a federal judge upheld a block on two provisions in the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007, ending a lengthy legal battle over an immigration law described by many as one of the harshest in the nation.

By Andrew Knittle | Published: December 20, 2012 Comment on this article

“This joint motion puts into place what the circuit court and U.S. Supreme Court already had decided on these issues,” Pruitt said. “We now can shift our focus to implementing and enforcing the law.”

The 2007 law made it a felony in Oklahoma to give a known undocumented immigrant a ride or to let one stay at your residence.

The second section of the law, which was written by former state Rep. Randy Terrill, among others, claims that illegal immigration in Oklahoma was playing a part in undermining “the security of our borders” and hindering the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

“The State of Oklahoma finds that illegal immigration is causing economic hardship and lawlessness in this state,” the law states, “and that illegal immigration is encouraged when public agencies within this state provide public benefits without verifying immigration status.”

CONTRIBUTING: The Associated Press

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