Thousands to benefit from immigration action

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Thousands of immigrants living illegally in Oklahoma could benefit from President Barack Obama’s executive action aimed at sparing nearly 5 million people in the U.S. from being deported.

The action was hailed by Oklahoma human rights groups and criticized by Republican lawmakers, who called it an overreach of powers.

The Tulsa-based Dream Act Oklahoma estimated Friday that at least 6,000 residents could benefit from the president’s order.

Several state agencies said it was too soon to calculate what additional resources would be required for providing immigrants with services like driver’s licenses and unemployment benefits.

The main beneficiaries of the president’s actions are immigrants who have been in the U.S. illegally for more than five years but whose children are citizens or lawful permanent residents.