The House Public Safety Committee passed House Bill 4136 on Thursday. Representative Sean Roberts authored the bill which would allow law enforcement to seize an illegal immigrants vehicle during a traffic stop, if that suspect has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.
Roberts says it is a way to curb undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma’s communities.
“Our communities are sadly forced to cover the cost of illegal immigrants who break the law,” Roberts said. “We have an obligation to keep our citizens safe, and this is a strong step to keep our communities safe from illegal immigrants who have committed dangerous crimes.”
HB 4136 would allow a police officer to use the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems to check for criminal history and immigration status.
The committee passed the measure by a vote of eight to five and is now eligible for a hearing on the House floor.
