Oklahoma Governor Calls for Better Employer Cooperation on Immigration Enforcement

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Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has called for improved cooperation between employers and state authorities to address immigration enforcement challenges, citing recent cases where individuals with legal permits were being deported despite having old marijuana misdemeanor charges discharged over two decades ago.

Deportation Cases Despite Legal Status

During a recent appearance on NewsNation’s “Morning in America,” Stitt discussed an individual who had a marijuana misdemeanor charge from 20 years ago, which was subsequently discharged. Despite this, the person was being detained and deported from a legal workforce permit. Stitt emphasized that such cases highlight the need for better collaboration between employers and state agencies to ensure that individuals who are legally permitted to work in the U.S. are not unfairly targeted.

Employers as Key Partners in Immigration Enforcement

Stitt argued that employers should play a more active role in verifying the legal status of their workers. He stated, “We need to tell the American people, hey, here’s how we know who’s in our country. The best way to do that is to say, is an employer going to vouch for this person?” He added that this responsibility should fall at the state level rather than the federal government, as he believes it is more effective for state governors to manage immigration enforcement.

Call for Federal Law Enforcement

Stitt reiterated the importance of enforcing federal immigration laws, which he claims are currently broken. He stressed that the state’s role is to ensure that the workforce is composed of individuals who are contributing to the economy and who are legally present. “We have to enforce the federal law,” he said. “That’s why it’s a broken immigration system.”

Challenges in Immigration Verification

The governor’s remarks underscore the complexities of immigration enforcement, particularly when it comes to verifying past criminal records. Stitt acknowledged that there are cases where individuals with minor past convictions are being detained, even though their legal status should be clear. He called for a system that allows employers to vouch for their employees, ensuring that those who are contributing to the economy are not unfairly removed.

Stitt’s Vision for State-Level Immigration Control

Stitt believes that state governments are better equipped to handle immigration enforcement than the federal government. He argued that the federal system is too slow and inefficient, and that states like Oklahoma should take the lead in ensuring that the workforce is composed of individuals who are both legal and contributing to the economy. “I think that belongs at the state governors’ level, not the federal government,” he said.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

Connor Davis