Oklahoma Republican state officials have been vocal in their support for President-Elect Donald Trump’s approach to illegal immigration, including his proposal for mass deportations. On Wednesday, Gov. Kevin Stitt, alongside 25 other Republican governors, issued a joint statement backing the use of state law enforcement and the National Guard to support Trump’s immigration policies.
The following is a fact-check of recent claims related to illegal immigration in Oklahoma, using public records and information provided by state officials.
Claim 1: Medical Marijuana Is a Key Driver of Illegal Immigration to Oklahoma
Source: Tim Tipton, Oklahoma Commissioner of Public Safety, cited factors like Oklahoma’s proximity to the southern border, its robust interstate system, and the legalization of medical marijuana as contributors to increased illegal immigration.
Fact Check: True but Misleading
Since Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018, thousands of undocumented workers have taken jobs on marijuana farms. Some of these workers face labor exploitation and human trafficking, as reported by The Frontier and ProPublica. Many of them qualify for T visas, which provide legal status for victims of human trafficking. Additionally, a significant number of these workers are from China, fleeing religious or political persecution under China’s authoritarian government. While marijuana legalization has led to increased labor migration, the claim that it is a major driver of illegal immigration oversimplifies the issue.
Claim 2: Oklahoma Has Spent $474.9 Million to Educate Children of Undocumented Immigrants
Source: State Superintendent Ryan Walters wrote a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris in October, demanding federal reimbursement for the $474.9 million he claimed the state has spent on educating children of undocumented immigrants.
Fact Check: Mixed
The figure cited by Walters comes from a 2021 study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). FAIR estimated that nearly 42,000 school-aged children in Oklahoma are undocumented or have undocumented parents. Using the average cost of $11,371 per student, the total was about $474 million. However, the Migration Policy Institute suggests the number of undocumented children in Oklahoma is far lower, at around 6,000. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that children, regardless of immigration status, have the right to public education, complicating the accuracy of this claim.
Claim 3: It Costs $36,000 a Day to House 526 Undocumented Immigrants in Oklahoma Jails
Source: Gov. Kevin Stitt claimed in a press release that Oklahoma taxpayers are spending $36,000 a day to house undocumented immigrants in state jails.
Fact Check: True
Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections confirmed that the state houses 526 undocumented immigrants in its jails, at a daily cost of approximately $36,000. The total daily cost of housing all 22,000 prisoners in state custody is nearly $1.5 million.
Claim 4: Chinese Gangs Are Entering the U.S. Illegally Through the Marijuana Industry in Oklahoma
Source: A report from the Manhattan Institute claimed that Chinese gangs involved in the marijuana industry in Oklahoma are entering the U.S. illegally.
Fact Check: Mostly False
The majority of Chinese nationals involved in Oklahoma’s illegal marijuana industry have legal immigration status. Investigations by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and The Frontier reveal that many of these individuals have been in the U.S. for years and have operated legitimate businesses, including restaurants. Some are involved in illegal activities like money laundering, but most have not entered the U.S. illegally.
Claim 5: Undocumented Immigrants Contributed $227 Million to Oklahoma’s Tax Revenue in 2022
Source: A study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) reported that undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma contributed $227.5 million in state and local taxes in 2022.
Fact Check: True
The ITEP report found that undocumented immigrants pay many of the same taxes as U.S. citizens, including income, payroll, and sales taxes, but they do not benefit from most public services or tax credits. The American Immigration Council, another think tank, estimated that undocumented immigrants contributed around $230 million in taxes in 2022. The ITEP study used Census data and adjusted for undercounting to estimate the tax contributions of undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma.
Conclusion: These fact-checked claims show a mix of truths, misleading statements, and complexities. While some figures, like the cost of housing undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma jails, are accurate, other claims—such as those linking medical marijuana to illegal immigration or the exact cost of educating undocumented children—are more nuanced and harder to verify.
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