Attorney General Seeks Dismissal Of Immigration Lawsuit

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The attorney general's office is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Oklahoma's new law cracking down on illegal immigration. Attorney General Drew Edmondson

Tuesday, October 30th 2007, 12:06 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The attorney general's office is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Oklahoma's new law cracking down on illegal immigration. Attorney General Drew Edmondson says his office filed the motion to dismiss late Monday. The new law goes into effect on Thursday and prohibits illegal immigrants from getting jobs and state benefits and makes it a felony to harbor or transport illegal immigrants.

Assistant Attorney General Sandy Rinehart says the lawsuit, the second in as many weeks -- should be dismissed because the plaintiffs can't show they have been harmed by a law that hasn't yet gone into effect.

The most recent suit adds unidentified John and Jane Does who say they're being evicted from their homes because of the new law.

A federal judge in Tulsa has a scheduled a hearing in the case for 2 p.m. Wednesday.

It is the attorney general's responsibility to defend the constitutionality of Oklahoma statutes. Edmondson predicts that even if the suit is dismissed his office will face months and possibly years of legal wrangling over the issue.

To learn more about House Bill 1804, click here.

Watch the video: AG's Office Files Motion To Dismiss 1804 Lawsuit