Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is upset with a federal judge’s decision to put a temporary restraining order on the state’s immigration law. This comes after the federal lawsuit against House Bill 4156 was dropped by the Trump Administration in March.
A group out of Tulsa has filed a lawsuit against the law from being enforced, but it wants some of its plaintiffs to remain anonymous because it would expose them to the federal government as undocumented immigrants.
“In the name of federal law, the court is protecting admitted lawbreakers from federal and state consequences,” said Drummond. “This is perverse, contrary to the rule of law, and we will be evaluating all options for challenging the ruling.”
While the temporary restraining order is set to expire June 3, the judge is considering a preliminary injunction while the challenge to the law is being considered.
“It is outrageous that Oklahoma is once again prohibited from enforcement of HB 4156,” said Drummond, “This commonsense measure – necessary after the ineptitude of the Biden-Harris Administration to secure the nation’s border – is critical in our efforts to shut down illegal marijuana grows, fentanyl distribution and other illegal activities. Once the Trump Administration withdrew the previous administration’s objection to the law, law enforcement in our state was able to breathe a sigh of relief that Oklahoma finally would have agency to protect the public. It is bewildering that this law again hangs in the balance while nameless lawbreakers are allowed to halt enforcement of HB 4156.”
The lawsuit was filed by Padres Unidos De Tulsa and other in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.
