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Oklahoma lawmaker sounds alarm over proposed ICE processing center in Oklahoma City

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Oklahoma lawmaker sounds alarm over proposed ICE processing center in Oklahoma City


OKLAHOMA CITY –

An Oklahoma warehouse in southwest Oklahoma City may soon be converted into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center, part of a larger federal plan to detain thousands of immigrants across the country.

State Sen. Cari Hicks says Oklahoma City facility could strain resources and impact nearby neighborhoods, schools.

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ICE Targets 16 Cities Nationwide

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Oklahoma City is reportedly one of 16 cities under consideration by ICE for processing and detention sites. The plan, first reported by The Washington Post, would convert warehouses into one large detention center and 16 smaller processing facilities to speed up deportations.

State Senator Raises Concerns About Lack of Transparency

State Senator Carri Hicks (D–Oklahoma City) says she recently learned about the plan and is alarmed by the lack of transparency at both the local and state levels.

“This is not a rumor. It is a developed plan and it’s being executed,” she said. “And there has been no transparency and no accountability either at the local level, municipal level or the state level. And I think that should concern every Oklahoman.”

Proposed Site Near Residential Neighborhood

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A letter from the Department of Homeland Security to the city’s planning commission reportedly outlines plans to convert a more than 400,000 square foot warehouse at 2800 South Council into a 1,500-bed ICE processing center.

The site is less than two miles from Western Heights Public School, raising concerns among residents and lawmakers.

Community Impact: Fear and Safety Concerns

Senator Hicks says the proposed facility could create fear and anxiety among families in the nearby community.

“It brings a lot of fear to the students and to the families… because we’ve seen bold actions that are profiling folks based on their skin color.” She also warns that a processing center could strain local resources such as public safety.

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What Would the Facility Include?

If approved, the building would be redesigned to include:

  • Detention Space
  • Offices
  • Restrooms
  • Cafeteria
  • Medical space
  • Visitor areas

Lawmaker Calls for Public Action

Senator Hicks has taken to TikTok and public forums to encourage citizens to speak out and contact lawmakers.

“We need to continue to put people over politics and tell Washington that this unilateral decision will not be tolerated in our community.”

Other ICE Facilities in Oklahoma

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Oklahoma already has existing or planned ICE facilities in:

  • Newkirk
  • Cushing
  • Watonga
  • Guthrie
  • Tulsa





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Oklahoma Moves up Friday Start Times for Baseball, Softball Games

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Oklahoma Moves up Friday Start Times for Baseball, Softball Games


OU fans hoping to make it to either diamond on Friday will need to get there earlier than expected.

Oklahoma announced on Thursday that its baseball and softball series openers will each begin at 5:30 p.m on Friday.

Game 1 of the No. 14 Sooners’ baseball series against Missouri was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., while the No. 1 softball team’s series opener against No. 8 Arkansas was slated for 7 p.m.

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In a pair of releases on OU’s athletic website, the reason given for both time changes was “forecasted inclement weather.” According to the National Weather Service, severe weather is supposed to arrive in Norman and its surrounding areas around 8 p.m.

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OU’s other baseball games against the Tigers on Saturday and Sunday will remain at their scheduled times (4 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively). The softball games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will remain at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

The baseball team’s three-game duel with Mizzou will be OU’s third home series of SEC play. Oklahoma opened conference play by taking two games of three against Texas A&M before dropping two of three to Alabama a few weeks later.

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OU has already played three SEC road series. The Sooners won two games of three at LSU in March before getting swept at Texas a week later. Most recently — last week — Oklahoma won two games against Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Oklahoma (24-12 overall, 7-8 SEC) sits in a five-way tie for ninth place in the SEC standings alongside Mississippi State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

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Missouri, on the other hand, has played its way out of contention.

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The Tigers come to Norman 20-17 and 3-12. They earned a road series win against Kentucky two weeks ago, but they followed that up with three losses in a row to fellow conference bottom feeder South Carolina last week. Mizzou has been swept three times — by Auburn, Texas A&M and the Gamecocks — since the start of SEC play.

On the softball side, Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 after taking two games of three against former top-ranked squad Texas. The Sooners, though, dropped their third game in Austin before falling to unranked Oklahoma State at Devon Park in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

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The Sooners are 40-5 overall and 13-2 in conference play. OU currently sits atop the SEC standings, one game ahead of second-place Alabama.

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Arkansas comes into the series at Love’s Field on a heater. The Razorbacks (35-6, 10-5) have won six of their last seven contests. Their only series loss of conference play this year came against Alabama, which is ranked No. 3.

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Oklahoma police set up sting for stolen property

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Oklahoma police set up sting for stolen property


One person has been arrested after allegedly trying to sell stolen property on Facebook.

On April 10, an officer with the Tulsa Police Department saw a post on Facebook Marketplace for a projector lens that was stolen from the condemned Promenade Mall.

The lens, which is worth $20,000, was listed for just $500.

The officer used a fake Facebook account to message the seller and arranged a trade for the lens in exchange for a minibike.

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Earlier this week, 19-year-old Zachery Scrivner met with the officer and was arrested.

According to the police department, Scrivner said he knew the lens was stolen but decided to try to sell it anyway.

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He was arrested on a complaint of knowingly concealing stolen property.

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Video shows Oklahoma principal tackling gunman in school lobby

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Video shows Oklahoma principal tackling gunman in school lobby


Newly released surveillance video shows a gunman opening fire in the lobby of Pauls Valley High School in Oklahoma last week. Seconds later, Principal Kirk Moore runs toward the threat, tackles the suspect onto a bench, and helps restrain him as another staff member kicks the weapon away.



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