Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has unveiled a controversial plan to deport illegal immigrants convicted of crimes and currently serving time in state prisons.
According to Fox News, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is taking a significant step that ties into President-elect Donald Trump's national strategy for mass deportations planned for the upcoming year.
Gov. Stitt's new approach calls for a collaboration with President-elect Trump's transition team, aligning state-level actions with broader federal goals for immigration control. Set to commence preparations in January, this initiative is undertaken by the state's commissioner of public safety, aiming for efficient implementation.
The financial burden of non-U.S. citizens imprisoned in Oklahoma is substantial, costing taxpayers roughly $36,000 daily. More than 500 inmates fitting this description are believed to exacerbate the fiscal strain on state resources.
This initiative, according to Gov. Stitt, stands as logical and necessary. "It's a matter of common sense and restoring Oklahoma to the rule of law," he explained. The governor also emphasized the broader public desire for enhanced community safety and strengthened border security.
Gov. Stitt's announcement comes amidst prior dialogues highlighting the state's acute challenges linked to illegal drugs and crime, with Oklahoma facing a surge in fentanyl-related deaths under his governance. The governor relates these issues directly to broader border security lapses and insists on the need for stringent measures.
Despite widespread support in Republican circles, Gov. Stitt's plan has faced pushback from several Democrat-led sanctuary cities and states. These jurisdictions often champion more lenient approaches towards illegal immigrants, creating friction between state and federal policies.
Gov. Kevin Stitt expressed astonishment at the opposition from Democrat governors, stressing that Americans voted for safe communities and secure borders in the recent elections. "What's amazing to me is you have some Democrat governors that are now talking about not supporting President Trump, and I don't think they learned anything from the election," Gov. Stitt said. This remark underscores his perplexity at the resistance against policies that aim to reform immigration laws to ensure public safety.
Despite facing criticism, Stitt remains a proponent of legal immigration reform, advocating for pathways that promote the integration of immigrants into American society, like transitioning from education to workforce visas under specific conditions.
"If you're at the University of Oklahoma on an education visa, we certainly want to be able to convert that to a workforce visa if we have an employer that needs that job, and if you want to chase the American dream, if you want to be part of paying taxes, part of our society, then we want to work that angle as well," explained Gov. Stitt.
During the announcement of his plan, Gov. Stitt emphasized the broader national consensus reflected in President-elect Trump's recent electoral victory. This consensus views robust immigration enforcement as tantamount to civic safety and national security readiness.
With President-elect Donald Trump's forthcoming administration preparing to implement expansive immigration policies, state leaders like Gov. Stitt are aligning their strategies accordingly. Oklahoma’s particularly tough stance revolves around a combination of deporting criminal illegal immigrants and supporting legal migration under terms that benefit both the state and its residents.
In sum, Gov. Kevin Stitt's directive to deport illegal immigrants convicted of crimes positions Oklahoma's move as a strategic, fiscally responsible act designed to bolster community safety and align state and federal immigration strategies. The plan not only seeks to relieve Oklahoma taxpayers of formidable incarceration costs but also reflects the electorate’s desire for stringent border control and effective immigration governance.
