Governor Kevin Stitt has signed House Bill 4156 into law making it a crime to reside in Oklahoma while not legally in the country. The immigration law creates the crime of “impermissible occupation.” The first offense is a misdemeanor with up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. The subsequent offenses are considered felonies punishable by up to two years in prison and a $1,000 fine. In both cases, the offender must leave the state within 72 hours of release from jail or prison and are not allowed to return.
Legislative leadership said HB 4156 was necessary because of the Biden Administration’s failure to secure the southern border with Mexico.
“I am disappointed this bill is necessary. Since President Biden took office in 2021, more than 10 million people have poured over the southern border. Countless individuals from across the globe, including thousands of Chinese nationals as well as people affiliated with terror organizations, have illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Oklahomans are concerned by who could be lying in wait for an opportunity to bring harm to our country,” said Stitt in a statement announcing he had signed the bill.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised Stitt for signing the legislation.
“Oklahoma has reaped the consequences of the Biden Administration’s utter failure to secure our nation’s border, as evidenced by the flood of illegal marijuana grows and other criminal activity connected to Chinese syndicates and Mexican cartels,” said Drummond, who last month asked the legislative leadership to pursue the measure. “HB 4156 gives law enforcement the tools necessary to ensure public safety for all Oklahomans. I am grateful to House Speaker McCall and Senate President Pro Tempore Treat for their swift action in making the bill a reality.”
Stitt said this bill is not an excuse to be racist toward Oklahoma’s Hispanic community.
“My sole aim is to protect all four million Oklahomans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or heritage. I love Oklahoma’s Hispanic community and I want to ensure that every law-abiding citizen has the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. Let me be clear – there is no tolerance for racism or discrimination against any community in our state. I want our Hispanic community to rest assured that this law does not give law enforcement the authority to profile individuals or question them about their immigration status without reasonable suspicion of a crime,” said Stitt.
The Governor also is setting up a task force to examine the issue further.
“This is an opportunity for our state to continue to find solutions where the federal government has failed. That is why I am launching the Oklahoma State Work Permits and Visas (OSWPV) Task Force to find ways to bolster our workforce and create opportunities for those who are here contributing to our communities and economy. As I’ve said many times, governors should have more authority over the H1-B visa process so we can better address the workforce needs of our economies. This task force will be a step in that direction.”
Senator Michael Brooks, who tried to amend the bill, says HB 4156 has created an unsettling feeling among Latinos in Oklahoma.
“Over the past two weeks, many Oklahomans have felt anxious about HB 4156. Our caucus has done our best to quell fear and address questions at various town hall meetings from Oklahoma City to Tulsa. It has been abundantly clear that folks across the state understand what is at stake — profound loss of revenue and workforce, strain on law enforcement, and expensive legal challenges. We have said from the very beginning that there are common sense policy solutions that we should be discussing, and I am disappointed that the governor chose not to revisit that conversation,” said Brooks.
Because HB 4156 was passed with an “emergency” the law takes effect immediately.
If you are here illegally, I don’t care about your “feelings”.