State Rep. Responds to Legal Battle Over Immigration Law

The state of Oklahoma is challenging a federal judge who halted enforcement of the controversial immigration bill HB 4156.

This week, Oklahoma’s attorney general filed an appeal seeking to lift a preliminary injunction.

“The Biden Administration’s complete and utter failure to address the border crisis has left Oklahoma with no option but to take the necessary steps to ensure public safety,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a press release. “House Bill 4156 is a powerful tool to combat criminal activity fueled in large part by illegal immigrants coming to our state.”

The bill was opposed by the state’s Hispanic communities and the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police.

Democratic Rep. Arturo Alonso of Oklahoma City believes the preliminary injunction will stand.

“I recognize that there is dysfunction at the southern border, and that comes from decades of just not wanting to have a conversation about solutions at the federal level,” Alonso said. “And it’s left the states to shoulder the responsibility. But bills like HB 4156 are not the solution.”

Alonso and the Latino Caucus have warned of consequences including a breakdown in trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. He echoed the sentiments of law enforcement, which questioned the likelihood of racial profiling.

Governor Stitt previously announced a state task force that would address some of these concerns and explore options for undocumented immigrants to remain in Oklahoma and hold certain critical jobs.

“If you want to live the American dream and be an Oklahoman, an American, if you want to pay taxes, work hard and be a part of our community, we want you here,” Stitt said in an interview with News 9 in May.

Alonso believes the law has a major impact on his constituency despite the ban, and that it raises concerns about the future of the Oklahoma constituency.

“We also have to recognize that there are undocumented Oklahomans who have been paying taxes here for decades,” Alonso said. “They’re planting roots and contributing to the state in so many different ways.”

Drummond has cited illegal marijuana operations as the driving force behind the bill, specifically Mexican and Chinese organized crime groups.

“My mission is to establish and achieve public protection,” he said. “And this comes down to public protection in the state of Oklahoma.