Seminole Senator Plans Immigrant Work Bill (Dec 14, 2012) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A Republican state senator from Seminole says he'll reintroduce a proposal to allow illegal immigrants to work in Oklahoma. Sen. Harry Coates of Seminole says he's filed a bill to allow illegal immigrants who are 18 or older to stay in the state if they purchase a guest worker permit, find a sponsor who will both hire them and provide health insurance. The permit would cost $1,000 and the workers must agree to a criminal background check and provide a home address and phone number. Coates sponsored a similar bill earlier this year that was never heard in a Senate committee. It carried a permit fee of $2,000, prohibited the illegal immigrants from receiving unemployment payments and required them to provide evidence that they would not operate a motor vehicle. « back |