Attorney: New law could create 'immigration widows'

Associated Press - October 12, 2007 10:45 AM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma City attorney says a law intended to crack down on illegal immigrants could mean more people on welfare in the state.

Attorney Michael Brooks-Jimenez says the law could force women who are U.S. citizens to become "immigration widows" and apply for state aid for themselves and their children when their illegal immigrant husbands are departed.

And he says the state Department of Human Services may have to take custody of American-born children if both their parents are illegal immigrants and are deported.

State Representative Randy Terrill authored the legislation and says it's possible there would be a "limited" number of such cases. But Terrill says the people this would be happening to are in the U.S. illegally and he says committing a crime has consequences.

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