Oklahoma lawmakers vote to deport illegal aliens from state prisons

By Associated Press
11:31 AM CDT, May 22, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation that authorizes state prisons to send illegal alien inmates to federal immigration officials for deportation has passed the state House.

The bill would also prevent the government from transferring terrorists from the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp to private prisons in Oklahoma.

Lawmakers approved the measure Friday and sent it to the Senate for final passage.

Its author, Rep. Randy Terrill of Moore, says the deportation provisions will save the state millions of dollars in incarceration costs. The provisions apply only to illegal aliens who are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes and have served at least one-third of their sentence.

The bill also makes it illegal for private prison contractors to provide housing, care and control of detainees designated as enemy combatants by the federal government.

http://www.kfor.com/news/sns-ap-ok-xgr- ... 9529.story