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.
Construction has officially begun on Oklahoma City’s new MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium.
Oklahoma City Leaders broke ground Monday afternoon on the site. The stadium, designed by Populous, will serve as the future home of Oklahoma City’s professional soccer teams and a United Football League franchise.
Officials said the venue will also host concerts, youth sports, graduations, and other community events.
“Today’s stadium groundbreaking reflects a city that is relentlessly investing in itself,” Mayor David Holt said. “We are perhaps the only top 50 city to lack a multipurpose stadium, and it’s kept us from opportunities in soccer and music, as well as in minor league football, collegiate and high school sports. In 2019, we decided to address that need. And even before we broke ground, we were already seeing new opportunities present themselves. We are also seeing this project become a catalyst for the parcel around it, which promises to develop into a vibrant new mixed-use district in the heart of our city. This MAPS 4 project continues our city’s incredibly successful philosophy. When we invest in our city, we always reap rewards.”
The project is expected to become a major hub for sports and entertainment in downtown Oklahoma City.
City leaders break ground on MAPS 4 multipurpose stadium in downtown Oklahoma City (Photo: City of OKC)
“This stadium will serve as far more than a sports and entertainment venue; it will be a community hub and a catalyst for a bold new cultural district in downtown Oklahoma City,” said Christian Kanady, founder and CEO of Echo Investment Capital. “As the future home of our professional soccer club, it will also host concerts, events, and gatherings that bring people together and deliver on our promise to create meaningful experiences for our fans, partners, and community. This project reflects Oklahoma City’s continued investment and its future, and we’re proud to partner with the City of Oklahoma City on such a transformational vision.”
The stadium will be operated by Echo and their professional sports platform, and built in partnership with Russell Westbrook, Nick Gross, the Chickasa Nation, Poulous, Fields and Futures, and Robison Park.
“The MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium is an investment in the future of Oklahoma City and the talent pipeline for our youth,” Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jamie C. Polk said. “This world-class venue will bring our community together while giving students a place to compete, perform, celebrate graduation, and dream bigger about their future right here at home.”
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Oklahoma isn’t done yet.
The Sooners’ bats kept them in the Atlanta Regional with an emphatic showing in the Atlanta Regional on Sunday.
Deiten LaChance’s grand slam highlighted OU’s eight-run fourth inning, which turned Sunday’s contest against No. 2-overall seed Georgia Tech on its head.
Prior to the fourth, it looked as if it was going to be the Yellow Jackets’ night.
The hosts plated five runs in the third inning to take a 7-2 lead, and a call went against OU in the bottom of the third.
How to Watch Oklahoma vs. Georgia Tech in the Atlanta Regonal Final
- When: Monday, June 1
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Channel: ESPNU
Trey Gambill had snaked a single through the Georgia Tech infield to plate a run and cut the lead down with two outs, but just before the pitch was thrown, the third base umpire raised his arm to indicate there had been a pitch clock violation.
Lucky to have just gotten out of the situation with a ball, Yellow Jacket pitcher Jackson Blakely struck Gambill out, which understandably did not go over well in Oklahoma’s dugout.
The setback only galvanized Skip Johnson’s Sooners, however.
OU responded by sending 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth, and the Sooners took a 10-8 lead.
It was an advantage they never relented.
Oklahoma added an insurance run in the seventh and four more in the eighth to ensure that the Sooners would head back to the team hotel with a decisive Game 7 of the Atlanta Regional on the mind.
Johnson will have a big choice to make in who starts the do-or-die contest on Monday afternoon (2 p.m., ESPNU).
In OU’s first game against The Citadel on Sunday, Johnson rolled with freshman Nick Wesloski.
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He pitched seven innings to get the Sooners into Sunday night’s contest against Georgia Tech. Oklahoma’s big offensive showing against the Bulldogs meant that Johnson could make any choice necessary in relief, so he threw Reid Hensley and Jaden Barfield for an inning each to seal the win.
Against the Yellow Jackets, OU started Cameron Johnson. He faced just three batters, allowing two runs on two hits, before Oklahoma turned to Jackson Cleveland.
Cleveland tossed three innings in relief. OU also used two innings of Gavyn Jones and LJ Mercurius picked up a save by pitching four innings on Sunday night.
The winner between Monday’s battle will meet 15-seed Kansas in next weekend’s Super Regionals. Georgia Tech would host the Jayhawks with a win, whereas the Sooners would head to Lawrence next weekend if they are able to oust the top seed left in the NCAA Tournament.
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Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
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