By John Dobberstein, Editor
The call in Washington and here in Oklahoma for tougher immigration laws got even louder this week after the U.S. Supreme Court decision cleared the way for state law enforcement in Texas to arrest and deport illegal immigrants.
The SCOTUS ruling was within hours blocked by a U.S. Court of Appeals judge in the 5th Circuit, and oral arguments had been scheduled for Wednesday. It’s unclear what occurred in the hearing.
Nevertheless, Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall (R-Atoka) said he plans to file legislation to “secure the border of Oklahoma against the ongoing illegal immigration crisis.”
McCall alleged the Biden Administration’s policies “have turned every state into a border state.
“Oklahoma is a law-and-order state and should be the last place illegal immigrants want to settle when they cross over the border,” McCall said in a statement, noting SCOTUS’ ruling on Senate Bill 4 out of Texas. “I am immediately introducing legislation to secure the borders of Oklahoma in the same fashion as our neighbors to the south.”
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond urged state lawmakers to act quickly in the current session to pass a measure allow Oklahoma law enforcement to do the same.
“Public safety is my paramount concern,” Drummond said in a statement. “Oklahoma state, county and local law enforcement know all too well the impact of the nation’s porous border. The Biden Administration has failed to secure our border, leaving us to suffer the consequences.
“If the federal government won’t do its job,” he added, “then it is imperative that Oklahoma be allowed to protect our citizens.”
Drummond said the ongoing border crisis may lead the nation’s highest court to set new precedent regarding the enforcement of immigration laws. “If and when that day comes, I want Oklahoma to be prepared with a robust law that empowers local law enforcement,” he said.
“If the federal government won’t do its job then it is imperative that Oklahoma be allowed to protect our citizens…“
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond
Almost a week ago, the Oklahoma House approved a bill aimed at reducing the number of individuals entering the state illegally.
Neil Hays (R-Checotah) authored House Bill 3071, which would prohibit state revenue from being used to provide benefits to illegal immigrants unless the costs are related to education, jailing, or transporting an illegal immigrant to an out-of-state destination.
HB3071 would allow for exceptions to be made for law enforcement agencies or personnel investigating incidents of domestic violence or human trafficking.
It would ensure that victim service programs certified by the Office of the Attorney General to provide domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking services to a person are not restricted if the services are required under federal law.
The measure would apply to all state agencies, public or private entities, meaning they must enact policies to ensure compliance or risk losing funding through state taxes.
The bill passed the House 71—17 and moved to the Senate for consideration.
In Washington, U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern (OK-1) reintroduced the “Withholding Illegal Revenue Entering Drug Markets (WIRED) Act” to the House of Representatives. The Senate companion has been introduced by U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.
Based on a similar policy enacted by Oklahoma, the WIRED Act imposes a 10% fee on remittances out of the U.S., with the intention of penalizing illicit activity such as drug and human smuggling.
According to the bill, U.S. citizens who wire money out of the country can receive a refundable tax credit later. The funds raised through remittance fees will go towards U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Hern said drug cartels in Mexico have been “overjoyed” by the border crisis, which he says has been fueled by inaction from Democrats.
“They enjoy operational control of our southern border, they traffic children and they are killing tens of thousands of Americans every year with fentanyl,” Hern said Wednesday. “We need every tool in our arsenal to combat the cartels and regain control of our border.”
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