ISSUE THEY’RE DIGGING IN ON IS IMMIGRATION. TWO DAYS AFTER THE OKLAHOMA FREEDOM CAUCUS WAS FORMED, THE THREE LAWMAKERS THAT LEAD THE GROUP ARE TAKING ISSUE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS PUT OUT BY AN IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE CREATED BY OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT. IF YOU ARE PROVIDING SERVICES OR INCENTIVIZING CERTAIN BEHAVIORS AND ACTIVITIES, YOU’RE GOING TO GET MORE, NOT LESS, OF THOSE ACTIVITIES. THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED INCREASING WORK PERMITS FOR NON-CITIZENS AND CREATING A STATE AGENCY OR GROUP FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE. THE TASK FORCE ALSO SUGGESTED PROVIDING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITH DRIVING PRIVILEGE CARDS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY, YOU CAN PROVE NATIONALITY, IDENTITY, AND RESIDENCY. IT’S A HIGHLY RESTRICTED PRIVILEGE. WHILE MAKING IT CLEAR IT’S NOT AN OFFICIAL FREEDOM CAUCUS POSITION, CHAIR SHANE JET AND VICE CHAIR JIM OLSEN AND DUSTY DEVERS ALL TOLD, KOCO FIVE THEY’RE WORRIED THE SUGGESTIONS, LIKE A DRIVING PRIVILEGE CARD, WOULD ONLY ENCOURAGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN OTHER STATES. THESE CARDS ARE USED TO GRANT PRIVILEGES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND THAT CREATES A TWO TIERED SYSTEM. AND THAT SYSTEM ERODES THE RULE OF LAW. A SPOKESPERSON STITT’S OFFICE TOLD US THE GOVERNOR WILL NEVER TAKE ANY ACTION THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO BORDER SECURITY. THE SPOKESPERSON ADDING THE TASK FORCE ONLY ISSUED THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S FAILURES TO SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER. THE BILL BEHIND THIS WORK VISA TASK FORCE HOUSE BILL 4156, WHICH ALLOWED LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE STATE, IS CURRENTLY TIED UP IN THE COURTS AND IS Y
Members of Oklahoma’s newly formed Freedom Caucus taking on Gov. Kevin Stitt
Two days after the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus was formed, three lawmakers leading the group are taking issue with recommendations put out by an immigration task force created by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
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Updated: 4:33 PM CDT Sep 5, 2024
Two days after the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus was formed, three lawmakers leading the group are taking issue with recommendations put out by an immigration task force created by Gov. Kevin Stitt.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.“If you are providing services and incentivizing certain behaviors or activities, you’re going to get less not more of those activities,” said state Sen. Shane Jett.Recommendations include increasing work permits for noncitizens and creating a state agency or group focused on the issues. The task force also suggested providing undocumented workers with driving privilege cards."If you do not have a criminal history, you can prove nationality, identity and residency -- it’s a highly restricted privilege," said Tricia Everest, with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.While making it clear it’s not an official Freedom Caucus position, Jett, state Rep. Jim Olsen and state Sen. Dusty Deevers all told KOCO 5 they’re worried the suggestions, like a driving privilege card, would only encourage illegal immigration.>> Download the KOCO 5 App“In other states, these cards are used to grant privileges to illegal immigrants and that creates a two-tiered system, and that system erodes the rule of law,” Deevers said.A spokesperson for Stitt’s office said the Governor will never take any action that would incentivize illegal immigration and remains committed to border security, adding that the task force only issued the recommendations to address the Biden Administration’s failures to secure the southern border.The bill behind the Work Visa Task Force, House Bill 4156, which allows local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, remains tied up in the courts and has yet to be applied.Top HeadlinesTeen charged with killing 4 at Georgia high school denied prior online threats in 2023Raygun apologizes to breakdance community for backlash to her Paris Olympics performanceOklahoma City tenants only given less than one day’s notice stairs would be out of orderCharges dismissed against man accused of 2017 double murder at Del City laundromatCrews battle several fires across Oklahoma City metro
OKLAHOMA CITY — Two days after the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus was formed, three lawmakers leading the group are taking issue with recommendations put out by an immigration task force created by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“If you are providing services and incentivizing certain behaviors or activities, you’re going to get less not more of those activities,” said state Sen. Shane Jett.
Recommendations include increasing work permits for noncitizens and creating a state agency or group focused on the issues. The task force also suggested providing undocumented workers with driving privilege cards.
"If you do not have a criminal history, you can prove nationality, identity and residency -- it’s a highly restricted privilege," said Tricia Everest, with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
While making it clear it’s not an official Freedom Caucus position, Jett, state Rep. Jim Olsen and state Sen. Dusty Deevers all told KOCO 5 they’re worried the suggestions, like a driving privilege card, would only encourage illegal immigration.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
“In other states, these cards are used to grant privileges to illegal immigrants and that creates a two-tiered system, and that system erodes the rule of law,” Deevers said.
A spokesperson for Stitt’s office said the Governor will never take any action that would incentivize illegal immigration and remains committed to border security, adding that the task force only issued the recommendations to address the Biden Administration’s failures to secure the southern border.
The bill behind the Work Visa Task Force, House Bill 4156, which allows local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, remains tied up in the courts and has yet to be applied.
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