Immigration battle continues in court


Associated Press - November 12, 2008 4:55 PM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State attorneys say a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce against the Oklahoma's tough anti-illegal immigration law is without merit and should be dismissed.

A key argument by the chamber is that the statute is flawed because it pre-empts federal law, imposing penalties on employers who do not use a voluntary federal worker verification system.

Sandy Rinehart, senior assistant attorney general, has filed a brief against that argument.

Rinehart said Wednesday the fact that participation in the verification system is voluntary under federal law, does not mean the state cannot make it mandatory.

Twenty-eight business, labor and civil rights groups have filed briefs in support of the U.S. Chamber's position. The case is before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

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