REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS TO GET THEIR REACTION. I CAN PROMISE YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT LIKING THE WAY THIS SOUNDS. IT WAS NICE TO HAVE THAT. MY BELIEF CONFIRMED BY THE TASK FORCE, LAWMAKERS IN STARK CONTRAST, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS PASSED DOWN BY THE GOVERNOR’S 11 MEMBER WORK PERMIT AND VISA TASK FORCE. THE TASK FORCE’S GOAL WAS TO CREATE GUIDELINES TO ALLOW IMMIGRANTS TO HAVE VISAS, PERMITS AND DOCUMENTATION TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM, CONTRIBUTE TO OUR WORKFORCE AND FOR OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITIES AND INDUSTRIES TO RECRUIT AND LEGALLY RETAIN GLOBAL TALENT WITHOUT FEAR OF UNNECESSARY DEPORTATION OR SEPARATION FROM FAMILY, SAFELY AND LEGALLY. A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE, JJ HUMPHREY, SAYS HE THINKS THE STATE HAS OTHER ISSUES TO FOCUS ON AND CREATE TASK FORCES FOR THE WAY THEY WENT ABOUT THIS IS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, IS -- POOR AND SORRY. IF YOU LOOK IN THERE, THERE’S LANGUAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT. WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE AMERICAN DREAM TO THESE ILLEGALS. WELL, GUESS WHAT MY KIDS ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE AMERICAN DREAM. BUT OTHERS, LIKE STATE SENATOR MICHAEL BROOKS-JIMENEZ, SAYS THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE COMMUNITY AND POLICY BENEFITS. BY BEING ABLE TO EXPAND DRIVER’S LICENSE ELIGIBILITY, TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE ON THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT DATABASE IN THE UNITED STATES BY ALLOWING THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET A DRIVER’S LICENSE OR SOME SORT OF DRIVER’S PERMIT, MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD. BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REALLY FAILED, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE. NOW, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE JUST SUGGESTIONS. IT’S NOT CLEAR IF THE GOVERNOR OR LAWMAKERS WILL TAKE ANY ACTI
Recommendations from Work Permit and Visa Task Force met with mixed reactions from lawmakers
Oklahoma lawmakers reacted to recommendations made by the state's Work Permit and Visa Task Force.
Updated: 5:16 PM CDT Sep 4, 2024
Oklahoma lawmakers reacted to recommendations made by the state's Work Permit and Visa Task Force.The task force was created by Gov. Kevin Stitt, who said it came about "in response to the federal government's failure to reform immigration," according to a spokesperson.A list of recommendations was passed down by the governor's 11-member task force. The goal of the Work Permit and Visa Task Force is to create guidelines to allow immigrants to have visas, permits and documentation to pursue the American dream and contribute to the state's workforce. One of the recommendations from the task force included adding driving privilege cards for undocumented immigrants. "I can promise you people are not liking the way this sounds," state Rep. Justin "JJ" Humphrey, a Republican who represents District 19, said. Oklahoma Democrats and Republicans had differing views on the recommendations. "It was nice to have my belief confirmed by the task force," state Sen. Michael Brooks-Jiminez, a Democrat who represents District 44, said. The task force would also allow Oklahoma universities and industries to recruit and legally retain talent without fear of unnecessary deportation.Humphrey said he thinks the state has other issues to focus on and create task forces for. "The way they went about this, for lack of a better word, it's piss-poor and sorry," Humphrey said. "If you look in there, there’s language that talks about, ‘We want to provide the American Dream to these illegals.’ Well, guess what? My kids are struggling to keep the American dream." But Brooks-Jimenez said the recommendations have community and policy benefits. "By being able to expand driver's license eligibility, to be able to get people on the largest law enforcement database in the United States by allowing them to get a driver's license or some sort of driver's permit makes all the sense in the world," Brooks-Jimenez said. "This is an issue where the federal government has really failed, and this is an opportunity for the state of Oklahoma to show how it should be done." The recommendations are just suggestions. It isn't clear if the governor or lawmakers will take any action moving forward. Top Headlines Police shoot knife-wielding suspect after crews respond to Edmond house fire Online sports betting costs Americans twice as much in retirement, study says Rossen Reports: This gadget will pull every drop from squeeze bottles What a catch! Group brings in 14-foot, 800-pound gator during hunting season Oklahoma sees drastic rise in fentanyl-related overdoses, arrests
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers reacted to recommendations made by the state's Work Permit and Visa Task Force.
The task force was created by Gov. Kevin Stitt, who said it came about "in response to the federal government's failure to reform immigration," according to a spokesperson.
A list of recommendations was passed down by the governor's 11-member task force. The goal of the Work Permit and Visa Task Force is to create guidelines to allow immigrants to have visas, permits and documentation to pursue the American dream and contribute to the state's workforce.
One of the recommendations from the task force included adding driving privilege cards for undocumented immigrants.
"I can promise you people are not liking the way this sounds," state Rep. Justin "JJ" Humphrey, a Republican who represents District 19, said.
Oklahoma Democrats and Republicans had differing views on the recommendations.
"It was nice to have my belief confirmed by the task force," state Sen. Michael Brooks-Jiminez, a Democrat who represents District 44, said.
The task force would also allow Oklahoma universities and industries to recruit and legally retain talent without fear of unnecessary deportation.
Humphrey said he thinks the state has other issues to focus on and create task forces for.
"The way they went about this, for lack of a better word, it's piss-poor and sorry," Humphrey said. "If you look in there, there’s language that talks about, ‘We want to provide the American Dream to these illegals.’ Well, guess what? My kids are struggling to keep the American dream."
But Brooks-Jimenez said the recommendations have community and policy benefits.
"By being able to expand driver's license eligibility, to be able to get people on the largest law enforcement database in the United States by allowing them to get a driver's license or some sort of driver's permit makes all the sense in the world," Brooks-Jimenez said. "This is an issue where the federal government has really failed, and this is an opportunity for the state of Oklahoma to show how it should be done."
The recommendations are just suggestions. It isn't clear if the governor or lawmakers will take any action moving forward.
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