Oklahoma Governor Signs Texas-Style Immigration Bill

Stitt said his goal is to protect all Oklahomans, regardless of race.

“I am disappointed that this bill is necessary,” Stitt said in a news release. “More than 10 million people have flowed across the southern border since President Biden took office in 2021. Scores of individuals from around the world, including thousands of Chinese nationals and people linked to terrorist organizations, have illegally crossed the US-Mexico border. Oklahomans are concerned about who might be waiting for an opportunity to harm our country.”

House Bill 4156 would create the crime of “unauthorized occupancy,” which would be punishable for the first offense by a fine of up to $500, up to one year in jail, or both. The second offense could be punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. In either case, a person would have 72 hours to leave the state after conviction or release from custody.

“Let me be clear: there is no tolerance for racism or discrimination against any community in our state,” Stitt said. “I want our Hispanic community to be assured that this law does not give law enforcement the authority to profile individuals or question them about their immigration status without reasonable suspicion of a crime.”

In the press release, Stitt also announced the creation of a task force to find legal pathways for workers in Oklahoma.

“As I have said many times, governors should have more control over the H1-B visa process so we can better meet the workforce needs of our economies. This task force will be a step in that direction,” Stitt said.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond also chastised the Biden administration for “the failure to secure our nation’s border,” saying in a press release that the new law “gives law enforcement the tools necessary to ensure public safety for all Oklahomans to ensure. “I am grateful to House Speaker McCall and Senate President Pro Tempore Treat for their swift action to make the bill a reality.”

The Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus also released a statement on the signing.

“It is abundantly clear that people across the state understand what is at stake: a major loss of revenue and workforce, strain on law enforcement and expensive legal challenges,” said Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City. “We have said from the very beginning that there are common sense policy solutions that we should discuss, and I am disappointed that the governor has chosen not to have that conversation again.”

Brooks offered amendments to the bill in the Senate that were largely ignored by his colleagues. One of his amendments would have created a route for taxpaying undocumented immigrants to get an Oklahoma ID; another amendment would have created a process in which people wrongly arrested under this law could seek compensation.

“The Legislature has the resources, the will and the intelligence to create good and lasting policy, which HB 4156 is not,” said Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman. “As a result of this bill becoming law, many good, hardworking people will leave Oklahoma.”