Controversial Immigration Bill Approved
AP - 4/3/2007 1:07 PM - Updated 4/3/2007 1:13 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A state Senate committee on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to block illegal immigrants' access to jobs and state benefits. The House-passed measure, by Rep. Randy Terrill and Sen. James Williamson, allows workers displaced by illegal immigrants to file a discrimination complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizenship Protection Act of 2007 requires employers to verify the legal status of employees they hire.

It makes it a felony under state law for anyone to knowingly transport or harbor from detection an undocumented worker.

Critics called the bill mean-spirited and punitive.

Williamson, R-Tulsa, said it responds to widespread dissatisfaction among the public to the failure of the federal government to deal with the immigration issue.

The bill allows children of illegal immigrants to continue to receive in-state tuition to attend Oklahoma colleges if they are currently enrolled. The measure tightens up requirements that such students be seeking legal status.

The Senate floor is the next stop for the proposal.

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