The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday passed legislation directing all law enforcement officials in the state -- sheriffs, jailers and deputies to comply with any request made by the federal government when immigration officials ask for detainers of suspected illegal immigrants.
House Bill 3195 addresses instances in Oklahoma where illegal immigrants have been released by local law enforcement despite their immigration status having been confirmed as illegal,
The legislation calls for the person identified in the immigration detainer to be informed they are being held in accordance with the request from federal agencies. The bill states that a sheriff, jailer or deputy is not required to comply if the person has provided proof that the person is a citizen of the United States.
Detainers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency are requests for jails to hold inmates an additional two days after their scheduled release if it is believed that person may have violated immigration law.
The legislation would not only require jails to honor these detainers but would also fine the facility $50,000 each time the detainers were not complied with.
The bill passed the House by a 78-21 vote and will now be be considered by the Oklahoma State Senate.
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