By Associated Press
Tulsa, OK – Okla says case supports illegal immigrants law
TULSA, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma attorneys say a recent federal court decision supports a state law requiring companies that do business with the state to use a federal database to verify their workers and contractors are eligible to work in the U.S.
In a letter Friday to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the state cites an August case decided in Maryland federal court to support its argument that Oklahoma's immigration law is not pre-empted by federal law.
Sections of the law were blocked by a federal judge last year after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others challenged it, saying the "E-Verify" program was unreliable and unfairly imposes penalties on employers.
Oklahoma appealed the case to the 10th Circuit, where a decision is still pending.