The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is set to consider a rule change Thursday that would give limited prenatal care to undocumented immigrant mothers, a move one lawmaker says is illegal.


Federal law requires the authority to pay for emergency labor and delivery services for women who are in the country illegally and therefore do not qualify for Medicaid. Because children born in the United States are citizens, regardless of their parents' immigration status, health care officials say paying for prenatal care will help reduce medical costs likely covered by the state later in the child's life.

But Rep. Randy Terrill said allowing illegal immigrant mothers to receive some Medicaid benefits is against state and federal law.

"If this new welfare benefit is approved, it will cause more desperate women to illegally cross our borders under dangerous circumstances that will likely jeopardize the lives of their unborn children while diverting resources that should go to Oklahoma's poor citizens,â€