Nearly 200 illegal immigrant inmates transferred from state custody

Nearly a year after the Oklahoma Criminal Illegal Alien Rapid Repatriation Act went into effect, 185 immigrant inmates serving time in state custody have been handed over to federal officials and deported. So far, eight have returned.

BY VALLERY BROWN Oklahoman
Published: August 2, 2010

A year-old state law is saving Oklahomans millions of dollars by deporting illegal immigrant criminals back to their home countries.

Oklahoma is one of about five states using similar methods to ease inmate overcrowding in prison systems, federal immigration officials say.

"It's working,â€