Oklahoma

Oklahoma governor says he wants to deport undocumented immigrants in state prisons

Published

1 year ago

November 15, 2024

Oklahoma governor says he wants to deport undocumented immigrants in state prisons

Gov. Kevin Stitt says Oklahoma will have a plan to deport undocumented immigrants in the custody of state prisons as soon as President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Saying he didn’t want the state to pay for what he described as the costs of the Biden administration’s open border policy, the Republican governor said he would seek to “expel those serving time in Oklahoma correctional facilities who are in the country illegally.”

Stitt made the announcement in a news release issued Friday, saying he was tapping Public Safety Commissioner Tim Tipton to lead the planning efforts.

“As law and order returns to the White House, Oklahoma will lead the charge with a comprehensive plan to deport those who have committed crimes in Oklahoma while in the country illegally,” Stitt said in the announcement.

“I am still committed to finding ways to pursue state-based workforce visas for those who want to pursue the American dream, but we will not tolerate criminal activity in our state,” the governor said.

Stitt’s announcement said the deportation plans could affect as many as 526 people being housed in Oklahoma Department of Corrections facilities.

The plans quickly attracted criticism and questions.

Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, acknowledged that paying to keep undocumented immigrants in state custody could be problematic, but stopped short of supporting Stitt’s plan. “It’s difficult to say I support the governor’s overall idea (and plan) based on a lack of details on how it would be implemented,” he said.

Stitt said he believes Oklahoma’s efforts could serve as a model for other states. But courts have rejected past attempts by Oklahoma officials to address federal immigration issues.

Oklahoma anti-immigration law HB 4156 has faced legal challenges

This year, state lawmakers passed House Bill 4156, a far-reaching measure that aimed to create a state system to regulate immigration.

The bill, which was signed into law by Stitt, makes the first offense for being undocumented in Oklahoma a misdemeanor with jail time of up to a year, or a fine of $500, or both. The second offense would be a felony. The bill would prohibit the ability of the courts or prosecutors to consider probation, delayed or community sentencing, or a future pathway to citizenship. People convicted under the law would have three days after release to leave the state.

That measure, however, was challenged in May by the U.S. Justice Department, which said the bill was an attempt to preempt federal law.

“Oklahoma cannot disregard the U.S. Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent,” Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said. “We have brought this action to ensure that Oklahoma adheres to the Constitution and the framework adopted by Congress for regulation of immigration.”

A short time later, a federal district court judge issued a court order that prohibited the state from enforcing the bill.

The ruling sparked an appeal by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Drummond said the law was “a powerful tool to counter criminal activity largely being fueled by illegal immigrants coming to our state.”

In September, Drummond asked the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver to reverse a lower court’s preliminary injunction that put the law on hold. The measure creates a crime of “impermissible occupation” and allows law enforcement officers to arrest and jail people living in the United States without legal permission.

“Rather, HB 4156 mirrors federal law by design,” the attorney general’s office said in its brief. “Without a valid cause of action, the United States relied on speculation about how HB 4156 would be implemented, spurious conclusions about the law’s underpinnings, and fundamental misconceptions about a state’s sovereign rights and duties in a federalist system of government.”

Prior to HB 4156, state lawmakers passed House Bill 1804, authored by then-state Rep. Randy Terrill in 2007. That bill eventually had most of its components overturned by a federal judge.

(This is a developing story.)

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Oklahoma

Where Will Oklahoma Land on Sunday’s College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal?

Published

8 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Press Room

Where Will Oklahoma Land on Sunday’s College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal?

Finally, Oklahoma will learn its path on Sunday.

The Sooners sat out conference championship weekend knowing that they’ll be on the bracket when the College Football Playoff field is announced (11 a.m., ESPN).

And after Saturday’s events, OU will likely get to play one more game at the Palace.

Brent Venables’ fourth OU squad — Team 131, he calls them — entered the weekend ranked eighth by the CFP Selection Committee.

The top four teams in the final rankings will each get a bye in the first round of the CFP, and the teams ranked 5-8 will host the lower seeds in a first-round contest.

Nothing happened Saturday to alter OU’s plans to host.

How to Watch the College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal

When: Sunday, Dec. 7
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Channel: ESPN

BYU was torched by Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game, then Georgia overpowered Alabama in the SEC title game in Atlanta.

The Cougars and the Crimson Tide were the only two teams who had a real chance to jump Oklahoma and force the Sooners to hit the road for their first-round game.

Sunday, OU simply waits to see who they will face in their first College Football Playoff since 2019, and when: the evening of Dec. 19, or sometime on Dec. 20.

The likely opponents come down to Notre Dame, Alabama or Miami, but it is unclear what the committee will do with the Crimson Tide following their emphatic defeat to Georgia.

Five Most Impactful Players During Oklahoma’s ‘Red November’

Published

20 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Five Most Impactful Players During Oklahoma’s ‘Red November’

NORMAN — Before the season, Oklahoma’s November schedule looked daunting.

And though a couple of the games had a bit less bite than they might’ve appeared early in the season, it was still as tough of a closing stretch as there was in college football.

The Sooners rose to the occasion, with road wins over Tennessee and Alabama and home victories over Missouri and LSU.

With the victories, OU is almost certainly heading to the College Football Playoff when the field is announced Sunday.

Here’s a look at the Sooners’ five most impactful players during their November run (in alphabetical order):

Eli Bowen, Cornerback

Bowen and his brother came up huge during the closing run.

The younger of the two had the flashiest play, an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown against Alabama that put the Sooners up 10-0 late in the first quarter.

Bowen also had an interception against Missouri, sealing the game with his pick in the final minute.

Peyton Bowen, Safety

Bowen had interceptions against Tennessee and LSU.

Against the Volunteers, he picked off Joey Aguilar late in the second quarter and returned it 37 yards to the OU 41, helping set up Tate Sandell’s 51-yard field goal that put the Sooners ahead 13-10.

His interception against LSU might’ve been even bigger.

Just after John Mateer was intercepted in the first quarter, then made a touchdown-saving tackle at the OU 4, Bowen picked off Michael Van Buren Jr. in the end zone.

The Sooners wound up having to punt the ball away on the drive but keeping the Tigers without a score there was huge.

Bowen also blocked a field goal in the second quarter against Missouri, with OU trailing 3-0.

Moments later, Isaiah Sategna’s 87-yard touchdown reception but the Sooners on top.

Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Peyton Bowen (22) closes in to make a hit on Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (17) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 23-21. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Gracen Halton, Defensive Tackle

There were plenty of candidates among the defensive line — R Mason Thomas had the incredible fumble return against Tennessee, but was hurt on the play and didn’t play again the rest of the regular season, and Taylor Wein was excellent during the month helping the Sooners not skip a beat without Thomas. But Halton’s disruption stood out among the group.

The stats don’t do justice to how good Halton was during the month, but his 82.8 PFF grade against LSU gives plenty of insight into his value during the month.

Tate Sandell, Kicker

Sandell might be the Sooners’ Most Valuable Player for the season, and certainly showed his worth during November.

He went 9 for 9 on field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points. Four of Sandell’s field goals during the month came from more than 50 yards.

Sandell was particular impactful against Tennessee, when he hit three second-quarter field goals — two longer than 50 yards — to send OU into the half with a 16-10 lead.

At this point, it would be a surprise if Sandell didn’t become the Sooners’ first Lou Groza Award winner after making 23 consecutive field-goal tries after his first try of the season missed and going 32 of 32 on extra points.

Isaiah Sategna, Wide Receiver

Sategna separated himself as the Sooners’ top receiver well before November, with big games against Auburn and Ole Miss in particular.

But Sategna took things to another level in the season’s final month, with a combined 22 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns during the month.

Sategna’s 87-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter against Missouri was huge, as was his 42-yard punt return against Alabama.

Other Candidates

Owen Heinecke, Grayson Miller, Febechi Nwaiwu, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Robert Spears-Jennings, Taylor Wein

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Oklahoma

Stitt outlines tax, education and power-appointment goals for final Oklahoma session

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Stitt outlines tax, education and power-appointment goals for final Oklahoma session

OKLAHOMA CITY –

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said he plans to use his final legislative session to pursue major structural reforms, including giving future governors authority to appoint additional statewide positions and finishing major pieces of his tax and education agenda.

In an exclusive interview on the Hot Seat, Stitt also discussed his work as chair of the National Governors Association, ongoing disputes over tribal jurisdiction and the future of Oklahoma’s energy and agriculture sectors.

State finances and tax priorities

Stitt said Oklahoma has moved from billion-dollar budget deficits to record savings since he first ran for office.

“Remember the teacher walkouts? Billion dollar deficits. No money in savings,” Stitt said. “Really proud of where we’re at today. We have the largest savings account we’ve ever had. I’ve cut over $1 billion in taxes.”

Stitt said education remains his top priority as he prepares his final budget proposal

Stitt renews push to permit appointment of the State Superintendent

Stitt said he will again ask lawmakers to send voters a proposal that would allow future governors to appoint the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Stitt argued the position should function like a cabinet-level appointment instead of an elected office with its own political base.

“You elect a governor, you say, ‘Go improve education.’ Let the governor appoint the very best person to run that,” Stitt said. “Too often our politicians are worried about the next election instead of the next generation.”

Stitt said he would support the same structure for positions such as attorney general, insurance commissioner and labor commissioner.

Election reform: Stitt opposes open primaries

Stitt said he opposes opening Oklahoma’s primary elections to all voters, arguing that approach would have prevented his own election.

“I like the fact that Republicans are choosing who they want to put forward, and Democrats are choosing who they want to put their person forward,” Stitt said.

Energy policy: supporting AI growth and opposing federal mandates

Stitt highlighted Oklahoma’s low electricity costs and said the state must continue expanding power generation to support new data centers and AI-driven industries.

Stitt said he supports “behind-the-meter” energy options and opposes federal rules that impose uniform energy regulation across states.

“We don’t want the federal government to come in and tell states how to regulate,” Stitt said. “Oklahoma is different from Texas and different from New York.”

As chair of the National Governors Association, Stitt said he is working with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on bipartisan permitting reform to shorten timelines for major infrastructure projects.

Tribal jurisdiction: hunting lawsuit and enforcement disputes

Stitt criticized recent moves to dismiss hunting cases on state-owned land, saying Oklahoma must maintain a single legal standard for all residents regardless of tribal citizenship.

“We can’t have two sets of rules based on your race,” Stitt said. “This is state-owned land that is for the benefit of all Oklahomans.”

Stitt said a pending tribal lawsuit will help determine whether the state continues to own and regulate land in eastern Oklahoma, calling the ruling significant in creating a single legal standard between tribes and the state.

Agriculture: poultry lawsuit and rural impacts

Stitt also criticized the attorney general’s approach in a longstanding poultry pollution lawsuit involving eastern Oklahoma waterways, saying retroactive penalties could drive companies out of the region.

Stitt said Tyson Foods has warned farmers it may leave eastern Oklahoma if a proposed settlement is finalized.

“If the permit needs to change, no problem. Get to the legislature,” Stitt said. “But if somebody has a permit, don’t come back ten years later and say, ‘Yeah, I know you follow the permit, but we really don’t like it.’”