Wednesday, January 29th 2025, 6:16 pm
A surge in immigration enforcement operations has heightened fear and uncertainty within the immigrant community. The Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus stood united at the state capitol on Wednesday to put some of those concerns to rest, clear up misconceptions, and prepare families.
The Nature of Immigration Enforcement Actions
Sen. Michael Brooks, (D) Oklahoma City, says that currently no widespread raids or random enforcement actions are happening in Oklahoma.
“These targeted operations are focused on individuals with prior convictions or previous deportation orders or fugitive operations,” he said.
However, he says false information on social media is fueling the fear of massive raids. “This isn't real,” he said during a press conference at the capitol. “This is just someone that fancies themselves as a content creator trying to get likes and trying to get shares to raise their profile on social media.”
Impact on Businesses and Local Economy
Brooks says one consequence of the heightened enforcement has impacted workforce attendance, especially in industries that rely on immigrant workers.
“Many businesses particularly those in construction, hospitality, food service, and agriculture are seeing lower attendance and significant drop in workers showing up due to concern over enforcement actions,” said Brooks. “This has real consequences for our local economy and hard-working Oklahomans across the state.”
The Impact on Schools and Education
Another area of concern is the effect on education, with families fearing the deportation of undocumented parents.
“We're already seeing people through fear and anxiety not enrolling their kids into schools which only adds to more problems,” said Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, (D) Oklahoma City. “Chronic absenteeism is one of the number one issues that our public school system is facing. This is only going to make things worse.”
The Oklahoma lawmaker says the proposed rules targeting undocumented students are not only discriminatory but also go against both state and national constitutional rights that guarantee every child access to free and public education.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved new rules on immigration. Those rules would require families to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship and school districts to track the number of students who cannot verify their immigration status.
“At the end of the day these kids are like any other, wanting to achieve their dreams and education is a vehicle for them to be able to do that,” said Alonso-Sandoval.
Despite these challenges, school leaders continue to reassure the community that schools are safe havens for children. “Teachers and principals are there to provide safety and a quality education,” Alonso-Sandoval said. “We want to make sure students feel welcome into their classrooms.”
Legal Support and Community Outreach
In response to the growing uncertainty, the Latino Caucus is taking proactive steps to support the community through organized legal clinics in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Those clinics will help families with issues like setting up a power-of-attorney or establishing standby guardianships.
“We’ll be hosting forums to provide information to keep the community informed and prepared,” said Rep. Annie Menz, (D) Norman. “We still hold onto hope and are working together we will not be backed into a corner; we will stand tall together and serve our community.”
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