Attorney General Drew Edmondson said in an opinion issued Thursday that applicants for professional licenses issued by the state must complete an affidavit swearing that they are lawfully present in the United States.The opinion was in response to a request by Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, and Rep. Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah, who sought clarification on the recently enacted House Bill 1804, also called the "Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizens Protection Act of 2007," which cracked down on illegal immigration in the state.
The opinion states that a U.S. citizen would be required to complete the affidavit only once unless their status were to change or the person otherwise becomes ineligible for licensure.
However, a "qualified alien" who is lawfully present in the country must complete an affidavit at each renewal.
State agencies or political subdivisions are required to verify the affidavit of "qualified aliens" through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program or through an equivalent program designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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