Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police speaks out against controversial immigration law
House Bill 4156 allows local law enforcement to detain and remove undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma, but many police agencies said this will have unintended consequences
House Bill 4156 allows local law enforcement to detain and remove undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma, but many police agencies said this will have unintended consequences
House Bill 4156 allows local law enforcement to detain and remove undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma, but many police agencies said this will have unintended consequences
Oklahoma police chiefs spoke out against a controversial immigration bill that was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt this month.
| MORE | Gov. Kevin Stitt stands by controversial immigration law
House Bill 4156 allows local law enforcement to detain and remove undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma, but many police agencies said this will have unintended consequences and make their jobs more difficult.
"We have talked to probably the majority of the representatives and senators up there about bills that impact law enforcement in Oklahoma," Guthrie police Chief Don Sweger said.
Sweger is on the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, an organization that released a statement against the immigration law on Tuesday.
“HB4156 brings forth legal challenges in fair and impartial policing and anti-racial profiling. These unintended consequences may deteriorate public trust in law enforcement in already vulnerable communities, ultimately resulting in increased public safety concerns," the association said in the statement.
While he said he did testify at the Oklahoma state Capitol, the association's members feel law enforcement leaders were not involved when the bill was drafted.
"They knew we were concerned. They knew of our concerns, and they passed it anyway," Sweger said.
The police chief said lots of people who cross the border don't trust police in their native countries, which makes officers' jobs harder in America.
"The police can do very bad things to them. So, they come here, and we don’t have that kind of policing system, but that’s still in the back of their minds," Sweger said.
He said the bill has unintended consequences, and victims could become hesitant to report crimes to law enforcement.
"If someone gets raped in my community, I want them to trust me enough to report it, so we can go after the guy who did it and lock him away, and I don’t care what color, race or creed they are," Sweger said.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has supported the new law, but he said this doesn't allow racial profiling. His main concern is illegal immigrants working in illegal industries, like black market marijuana and manufacturing fentanyl.
"Stopping without a reasonable and articulable suspicion, someone who does not appear to be native-born, that’s racial profiling, and that’s against the law," Drummond said. "To win this battle with organized crime, we have to also eliminate the workforce."
The attorney general said he did sympathize with Sweger's concerns, saying he is worried serious crimes may not get reported.
"The downside of the bill is that law-abiding individuals of the community that may not have proper access to the United States are going to be hesitant to report a crime or seek social services. We don’t want that," Drummond said.
Stitt signed the bill into law this month. There is a rally planned at the state Capitol on Wednesday to protest the new policy.
Top Headlines
- 8 dead, 45 hospitalized in massive Florida bus crash
- TIMELINE: Severe storms could bring hail, strong winds to Oklahoma on Wednesday
- Oklahomans could get another chance to see Northern Lights
- Police search for suspected shooter after Bethany home hit by gunfire
- Seeing ants in your home? Pest control expert explains why
- Thunder fans welcome team back to Oklahoma City after Game 4 victory