Governor Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order directing state agencies to increase immigration-status verification for public assistance programs.
The order instructs the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to use the federal SAVE database to verify the legal status of applicants.
The verification process would apply to programs including Medicaid, SNAP, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
“Welfare should go to eligible Oklahomans, not to people who are in this country illegally,” Stitt said.
Stitt also praised House Speaker Kyle Hilbert for work on legislation tied to immigration enforcement and benefit verification standards.
According to the governor’s office, the executive order takes effect immediately.
