Oklahoma City – On Friday, a federal judge granted a motion to temporarily halt Oklahoma from enforcing its recently passed anti-immigration law. The law, which would criminalize residing in the state without legal immigration status, was set to take effect on Monday.
U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones issued a preliminary injunction in response to a request from the U.S. Department of Justice, pending further litigation challenging the law. Similar laws in Texas and Iowa are also under scrutiny by the Justice Department.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Oklahoma City, argues that the law violates the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to declare the statute invalid and prevent the state from implementing it. Under the Oklahoma law, living in the state without legal immigration status could result in up to two years in prison.
In his order on Friday, Judge Jones acknowledged Oklahoma’s concerns about illegal immigration but emphasized that state policies must align with federal law.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating the law’s necessity due to what he perceives as inadequate border security efforts by the Biden administration. Drummond indicated plans to appeal the decision.
Reacting to the ruling, Noor Zafar, a staff attorney with The American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, criticized the law as harmful, asserting it could harm Oklahoma families and communities.
“This ruling is a victory,” Zafar remarked, in response to the court’s decision to block the law temporarily.