Oklahoma
Oklahoma Delegates React To President Biden's Executive Order On Border Crossings By Asylum Seekers
President Joe Biden‘s new executive order sharply restricting the ability of asylum seekers to enter the country between ports of entry has gone into effect, but it’s too soon to say what its long-term impact will be on illegal border crossings.
It’s not too soon, however, to say what the Oklahoma congressional delegation thinks of the policy.
No Oklahoma member of the delegation has been more intricately involved in the border issue than Senator James Lankford, who helped negotiate the bipartisan deal that his fellow Republicans rejected, but which President Biden borrowed from in implementing his new policy.
“I’ve come here today to do what the Republicans in Congress refused to do: take the necessary steps to secure our border,” said President Biden in prepared remarks at the White House on Tuesday.
Biden signed an executive order that, in effect, closes the border between ports of entry until migrant encounters, which have been hovering between 3,500 to 5,000 a day recently, drop below an average of 1,500 a day over two weeks. That’s a level that hasn’t been seen, Lankford noted on the Senate floor a day later, since Biden first took office.
“This is a border crisis of this administration’s creation,” Lankford stated. “They created this crisis.”
Sen. Lankford is the first to acknowledge that Congress has failed to do its part in reforming the asylum process but he says if Biden were truly serious about addressing the border crisis, he would reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, restart border wall construction, and so much more than just cherry pick the emergency shutoff valve contained in the bill he worked on.
“The heart of the bill was not what you do after thousands of people are crossing the border,” Lankford said, “the heart of the bill is what you do for the first person that illegally crosses.”
Progressive Democrats have also criticized the order, but for being too restrictive, and the ACLU will reportedly sue the government to halt its enforcement. But moderates, especially in border states, have welcomed it.
“With my Republican colleagues not wanting to take action on this,” said Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, “we’re at this point where the White House is taking some steps that I truly believe is going to make a big difference.”
That remains to be seen, and for now, Oklahoma members are deeply skeptical.
“This action was nothing more than smoke & mirrors,” said Rep. Kevin Hern(R-OK1) in a social media post, “scoring political points with the American people before the election rather than providing a solution.”
Lankford also believes President Biden’s motivation in adopting the policy is political, but then he’s also seen his members of his own party use the issue for political ends.
“Stop playing politics with this on all sides,” Lankford said.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are taking on the San Antonio Spurs in the Semi Final of the 2025 NBA Cup tournament. This is the third year of the event and second straight trip for the OKC Thunder to the Semi Final.
This is set to be a barn burner, as the Oklahoma City Thunder enter this contest 24-1 and the San Antonio Spurs sit at 17-7. Though, the even better news for both sides is the injury report. The Spurs get back generational talent Victor Wembanyama from his multi-week stint on the injured list and the Isaiah Hartenstein returns for Oklahoma City after missing the Thunder’s last five games.
With Oklahoma City only missing Isaiah Joe (knee contusion) in this contest, it gives them a rare treat. The Thunder for the first time all season will have their fully healthy starting five at their disposal. Many believe Mark Daigneault will deploy superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Defensive ace Lu Dort, All NBA swingman Jalen Williams, Rising star Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein.
This was the first time all season the Thunder have had the chance to prove that thought process right. It can be hard to navigate such a talent filled roster especially as well as Cason Wallace played as a spot starter and leading the league in steals.
In the end, the Oklahoma City Thunder weren’t the ones to throw a curveball with the starting lineup. It was the San Antonio Spurs who will bring Victor Wembanyama off the bench according to the official injury report submitted to the league before tip off.
This makes sense as Wembanyama has missed three weeks of action with a calf strain. San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson revealed that his star center was going to be restricted in his first game back, especially against this historically great defense.
OKC Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineups
OKC Thunder Starters
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G
- Lu Dort, G
- Jalen Williams, F
- Chet Holmgren, F
- Isaiah Hartenstein, C
San Antonio Spurs Starters
- De’Aaron Fox, G
- Steph Castle, G
- Devin Vassell, F
- Harrison Barnes, F
- Luke Kornet, C
The Oklahoma City Thunder will have to be mindful of their rotations to counter Wembanyama off the bench and stagger the likes of Holmgren and Hartenstein to counter it.
Up next, the Oklahoma City Thunder will either take on the New York Knicks on Tuesday in the NBA Cup Championship game with a win or resume their regular season with a loss. Falling to the Spurs would snap the Thunder’s 16 game winning streak, but issue Oklahoma City four days off leading into Thursday’s clash with the L.A. Clippers.
Catch up on Oklahoma’s top headlines of the week for Dec. 12, 2025
Here are Oklahoma’s top headlines of the week for Dec. 12, 2025
A Pawnee native who died in a Japanese prison during World War II is headed back to Oklahoma after officials identified his body 82 years later.
James M. Walker was an infantry corporal stationed on the Philippine Islands when Japan invaded in December 1941. U.S. forces battled the Japanese in intense fighting for months, but ultimately surrendered to the invaders in April 1942.
After being taken prisoner, Walker and thousands of other prisoners of war were forced to travel 65 miles to a prison camp on the notorious Bataan Death March. More than 2,500 POWs are reported to have died at the camp.
Prison camp records showed he died on Jan. 1, 1943 at the age of 46, but he was buried in a common grave with other deceased prisoners. After the war, the American Graves Registration Service exhumed the bodies, collected samples for identification analysis and reburied the remains in a memorial cemetery in Manila.
To identify Walker’s remains, scientists used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System also used mitochondrial DNA analysis and mitochondrial genome sequencing data.
Although interred as an “unknown” for decades, Walker’s grave was meticulously cared for by the American Battle Monuments Commission. His name is listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate his remains have been identified.
Upon his return to the United States, Walker will be buried in Maramec, Oklahoma in January 2026.
OKLAHOMA CITY, (KOKH) — Oklahoma City police responded to a fatal shooting in the 2600 block of N. Kelly Friday evening.
According to OKCPD, the shooting occurred at around 6:20 p.m.
When officers arrived, they located one adult male with gunshot wounds at the scene. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died during surgery.
Police believe the shooting was a result of a verbal argument that escalated into a fistfight and then a shooting.
The suspect has been taken into custody and transported to police headquarters for questioning.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
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