How Republican-led states far from the US-Mexico border are rushing to pass tough immigration laws

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican-led states are rushing to give broader powers to local police and impose criminal penalties for those living in the U.S. illegally as the issue of immigration enforcement remains central to the 2024 elections.

Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill on Tuesday that creates the new crime of “impermissible occupation,” which imposes penalties of as much as two years in prison for being in the state illegally.

Oklahoma is among several GOP-led...