The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry signed a sweeping immigration reform bill Tuesday, describing it as a stopgap measure to deal with an illegal immigration problem that is actually the responsibility of the federal government.

The legislation, described as the nation’s most meaningful attempt to deny jobs and public benefits to illegal immigrants, passed the House and Senate by overwhelming margins and was one of the key issues in last fall’s round of state legislative and congressional elections.

“Illegal immigration is a very serious national security issue that must be addressed at the federal level,” Henry said. “States can take some actions on their own, but until the U.S. Congress enacts a comprehensive, national immigration policy, citizens will see little progress on this issue.”

State lawmakers praised Henry’s action. Supporters had urged Henry to sign the measure into law since it received final passage in a bipartisan 84-14 vote by the state House last week. The bill was approved 41-6 by the Senate last month.

“This important new immigration reform ensures we’re upholding the rule of law in Oklahoma. Our citizens deserve nothing less,” said House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah.

The measure’s author, Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, credited public outcry at the federal government’s inability to address illegal immigration for his measure’s success.

“I’m glad the governor received the message,” Terrill said. “It puts Oklahoma effectively at the forefront in the state-level immigration reform movement.”

More than 100,000 illegal immigrants are estimated to live in Oklahoma. The Federation of American Immigration Reform has said they cost state taxpayers up to $200 million a year in public benefits, law enforcement costs and other resources.

“There are many Oklahomans who work hard and play by the rules every day, but they still struggle to make ends meet. Those are the people we should be looking out for,” Cargill said.

Immigrant groups said the measure is was a vain attempt to stop illegal immigration and urged Henry to veto it.

Ray Madrid, state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said the legislation may burden Latinos with new discriminatory barriers in housing and jobs.

“It’s going to take us back,” Madrid said. “I’m sure there’s going to be neighbors turning neighbors in.”

LULAC and other agencies that serve Latino communities are considering challenging the new law’s constitutionality because immigration policy is the responsibility of the federal government, not the state, Madrid said.

Ed Romo, vice president of LULAC, said the legislation is reminiscent of the Jim Crow laws directed at blacks in in the American South prior to federal civil rights legislation.