OKLAHOMA CITY – According to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), there are an estimated 11 million illegal or unauthorized immigrants in the United States. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, has joined Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, to help the federal government in locating those individuals who are detained by local law enforcement agencies.

House Bill 2774 requires all sheriffs, jailers, prison keepers, and their deputies to allow reasonable access to their detention facilities to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify inmates. Those being detained under such federal requests must be informed of such action by the local agency. The bill does not apply to detainees who can prove their U.S. citizenship or the agencies holding them.

“House Bill 2774 was requested by law enforcement officers around the state to clarify their role in our nation’s ongoing illegal immigration crisis,” Bullard said. “We’ve seen too many situations where local law enforcement agencies have released illegal immigrants fearing legal action or just from simply misunderstanding their role in such situations. This bill clarifies that they are to comply with all federal immigration orders and work with ICE officials to bring these offenders to justice.”

The bill was approved 9-2 Monday by the Senate Public Safety Committee and will next be heard by the full Senate.

For more information, contact:  Sen. Bullard: (405) 521-5586 or [email protected]