THE WAY, TIED UP IN COURT. WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE A SANCTUARY STATE. WE’RE GOING TO ENFORCE BORDER SECURITY. WE WILL ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO KNOW WHO’S COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY. GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT, STANDING BY HOUSE BILL 4156, LEGISLATION THAT HAS YET TO BE ENFORCED, TIED UP IN A LEGAL BATTLE IN FEDERAL COURT. 4156 WOULD ALLOW LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CHECK IMMIGRATION STATUS AND ORDER UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO LEAVE OKLAHOMA. THAT BEING SAID, STITT HAS LONG ACKNOWLEDGED THERE ARE UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS THAT GREATLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE’S ECONOMY. WE HAVE SOME GREAT IMMIGRANTS COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY, AND WE NEED TO FIX OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING IT. MONDAY MORNING, STITT’S 11, MEMBER STATE WORK PERMIT AND VISA TASK FORCE APPROVED FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS WHILE THEY STILL NEED TO BE REVIEWED. TASK FORCE MEMBER AND MEXICAN CONSUL ADRIANA PINEDA SAYS THE RECOMMENDATIONS COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE TASK FORCE WANTS THE STATE TO SET UP AN AGENCY OR OFFICE FOCUSED ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH IMMIGRANTS AND TO CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, BUILDING UP POLICY AND PUBLIC POLICY AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES IN THE STATE TO TO ADDRESS THE IMMIGRATION REALITY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. THEY ALSO WANT TO SEE THE STATE CREATE A PERMIT FOR UNDOCUMENTED DRIVERS SO THAT THOSE DRIVERS ARE TESTED AND INSURED. THERE ARE 1918 DIFFERENT STATES IN THE US ALREADY WITH THESE KIND OF PERMITS, INCLUDING RED STATES LIKE UTAH, FOR EXAMPLE. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SUGGESTIONS. WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THE GOVERNOR OR LAWMAKERS TAKE ANY ACTION ON THEM. AS FOR HOUSE BILL 4156, THOSE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS REMAIN ONGOING. THAT BILL IS AWAITING A HEARING BEFORE A 10TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN DENVER
Oklahoma task force recommends undocumented immigrants be allowed to get 'driving privilege cards'
The task force wants the state to set up an agency or office focused on immigration issues.
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Updated: 10:03 AM CDT Aug 27, 2024
An Oklahoma task force has recommended that undocumented immigrants be allowed to obtain "driving privilege cards," a proposal that now awaits review by lawmakers and the governor."We're not going to be a sanctuary state. We're going to enforce border security. We will absolutely. We have to know who's coming into our country," Gov. Kevin Stitt said.Stitt said he stands by House Bill 4156, legislation that has yet to be enforced and is tied up in a legal battle in federal court. The bill would allow local law enforcement to check immigration status and order undocumented immigrants to leave Oklahoma."We have some great immigrants coming into our country, and we need to fix our immigration policy. Federal government is not doing it," Stitt said.On Monday morning, Stitt's 11-member State Work Permit and Visa Task Force approved five recommendations. While they still need to be reviewed, task force member and Mexican Consul Edurne Pineda says the recommendations could make a difference."To continue working with immigrants and to continue building up public policy and recommendations to the different authorities in the state to address the immigration reality in the best way possible," Pineda said.The task force wants the state to set up an agency or office focused on immigration issues."There are 19 – 18 – different states in the U.S. already with these kinds of permits, including red states, like Utah for example," Pineda said.These recommendations are nothing more than suggestions, and it remains to be seen if the governor or lawmakers will take any action.As for House Bill 4156, legal proceedings are ongoing, and the bill will eventually go before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.Top Headlines The early Labor Day deals at Walmart include price slashes on AirPods, air fryers and more Investigation opened into Cleveland County Detention Center inmate's death Ryan Walters to investigate after Edmond student says he wasn't allowed to fly American flag Vacant Oklahoma City hotel catches fire again, crews battle to put blaze out
An Oklahoma task force has recommended that undocumented immigrants be allowed to obtain "driving privilege cards," a proposal that now awaits review by lawmakers and the governor.
"We're not going to be a sanctuary state. We're going to enforce border security. We will absolutely. We have to know who's coming into our country," Gov. Kevin Stitt said.
Stitt said he stands by House Bill 4156, legislation that has yet to be enforced and is tied up in a legal battle in federal court. The bill would allow local law enforcement to check immigration status and order undocumented immigrants to leave Oklahoma.
"We have some great immigrants coming into our country, and we need to fix our immigration policy. Federal government is not doing it," Stitt said.
On Monday morning, Stitt's 11-member State Work Permit and Visa Task Force approved five recommendations. While they still need to be reviewed, task force member and Mexican Consul Edurne Pineda says the recommendations could make a difference.
"To continue working with immigrants and to continue building up public policy and recommendations to the different authorities in the state to address the immigration reality in the best way possible," Pineda said.
The task force wants the state to set up an agency or office focused on immigration issues.
"There are 19 – 18 – different states in the U.S. already with these kinds of permits, including red states, like Utah for example," Pineda said.
These recommendations are nothing more than suggestions, and it remains to be seen if the governor or lawmakers will take any action.
As for House Bill 4156, legal proceedings are ongoing, and the bill will eventually go before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
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