OKLAHOMA CITY (February 26, 2007) – House Republicans leaders said Monday they will advance the nation’s most meaningful immigration reform law this week when a House committee takes up House Bill 1804, an omnibus reform measure.

"Our immigration reform effort is about upholding Oklahoma’s rule of law and respecting immigrants who come to our country legally," said Speaker Lance Cargill (R-Harrah). "We must do more to make sure that Oklahoma’s social safety net is not strained to the breaking point by illegal immigration."

Basic Pilot uses federal databases to determine work eligibility. Oklahoma would be among the first in the nation to enroll in the program, and employers would be required to use the database system to confirm employees’ legal status.

"Our federal government hasn’t stopped illegal immigration, so it’s up to states to lead the way," said Terrill (R-Moore). "This is about respect for our nation’s laws and our state’s laws. If you have one broken window in a neighborhood and do nothing to repair it, you’ll soon have a neighborhood full of broken windows. That’s the situation we have with illegal immigration. As a nation we have looked the other way and ignored the problem for too long."