Targeting Illegals In Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma House passes a bill targeting illegal immigrants that would block their access to jobs and state benefits.<br/><br/>The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of

Wednesday, March 7th 2007, 8:59 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma House passes a bill targeting illegal immigrants that would block their access to jobs and state benefits.

The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 by Moore state Representative Randy Terrill was approved 88-to-9 on Wednesday and now faces an uncertain fate in the Oklahoma Senate, where anti-immigration bills died last month in committee.

Sallisaw state Representative Glenn Bud Smithson says he voted for the bill but hoped he wouldn't look back upon it with shame.

Smithson says the United States has a history of treating people badly and regretting it later, such as with American Indians, black people and women.

But Sand Springs state Representative Rex Duncan says illegal immigration, quote, "will lead to the destruction of America" if it's not checked.

Among other things, the bill would repeal a 2003 state law that allows illegal immigrants to get in-state tuition, and it would restrict eligibility for state driver's licenses to citizens and legal immigrants.