A new immigration policy in Oklahoma may not get full support from the state’s Republican governor.
While Governor Kevin Stitt has said more should be done to secure the state’s border and deter human trafficking and drug smuggling, he has not entirely endorsed House Bill 4156, which creates state-level criminal penalties for illegal aliens.
As he considers signing the bill into law, Stitt told KOSU that he plans to consult a foreign diplomat from Mexico. He said he agrees with Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and the lawmakers behind HB 4156 that action is necessary but isn’t confident in this specific proposal.
“What they're trying to do is like Texas, and like a lot of these other states, is stop the flow of mass migration coming into the U.S.” Stitt said. “President Biden is not using the tools in his belt to secure the southern border. So, yes, states are stepping up to say, ‘we're going to make it very difficult to come here illegally, not follow our rules.’”
If made law, HB 4156 introduces new penalties for anyone illegally in the United States found in Oklahoma. A first-time offender could be sentenced to one year in county jail for the misdemeanor and/or could be fined up to $500. The individual would then be required to leave the state within 72 hours of his or her conviction or release from custody, whichever is later.
Secondary or subsequent offenses can be punished by up to two years in prison and/or a fine up to $1,000. The 72-hour departure requirement would also apply.
The state House of Representatives passed HB 4156 on April 18. Drummond praised the legislature.
“The Oklahoma House of Representatives has taken a strong stand today in favor of public safety. President Biden’s blatant refusal to follow federal law and his complete failure to secure the border are forcing states to take action,” Drummond said in a press release.
The state Senate is expected to vote on the bill in the coming days. The chamber must pass the bill before it can be sent to the governor.
Stitt plans to discuss the bill with Edurne Pineda, the Mexican consular general in Oklahoma City. The governor wants to reduce illegal immigration while still protecting the state's Latino community.
“Hopefully, I can learn from her and then help the legislature design the bill that they’re trying to do,” he said.
Pineda told KOSU that immigrant communities “love the United States” and that they are unfairly “being used as pawns for political games.” She did acknowledge that Latinos in Oklahoma have high rates of arrest for domestic violence and driving under the influence.
“They aren’t criminals,” said Pineda. “What they do is sometimes drink too much and drive unsafely. And we have high rates of domestic violence too. That’s not okay. They shouldn’t do that, but they aren’t criminals. That’s what I’ll say to the governor when I see him. I can’t let this opportunity go to waste.”
Stitt is currently serving his gubernatorial second term, which ends in January of 2027.
