The House Public Safety Committee passed House Bill 4136, which authorizes law enforcement to seize any vehicle operated by an illegal immigrant who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

House Bill 4136 was authored by State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, who said the purpose behind the bill was to curb illegal immigration and keep citizens safe.

“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.”

Roberts said that Oklahoma has a database that allows law enforcement to check for criminal history and immigration status. The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (OLETS) list people who are unlawfully in the U.S. and have been convicted of a crime.

The bill passed the House Public Safety Committee by an 8-5 vote and is now available to be considered on the House floor.