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Oklahoma Proposal Seeks Proof of Citizenship for Student Enrollment – NBC Los Angeles

Oklahoma Proposes Controversial Immigration Status Verification for School Enrollment

Oklahoma’s education board is considering a new proposal that would require parents enrolling their children in public schools to provide proof of their child’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status. The measure, championed by Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters, aims to align with former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. If passed, while the law would not prevent undocumented students from attending school, it would mandate schools to maintain a record of students’ legal status. The proposal was set to be voted on by the education board but still requires approval from state lawmakers and the governor.

Walters, supporting stricter immigration enforcement, asserted, “Schools are crippled by the flood of illegal immigrants and the Biden/Harris open border policy.” Critics, including educators and civil liberties groups, have voiced strong opposition, raising concerns about the potential impact on immigrant communities in Oklahoma. Democratic State Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval remarked that the community is fearful, with some parents contemplating withdrawing their children from school.

Oklahoma City Public Schools, which has a substantial Hispanic population, clarified that they would not collect immigration status information. Superintendent Jamie Polk emphasized that federal law guarantees every child’s right to public education, regardless of immigration status, referencing the 1982 Supreme Court decision, Plyler v. Doe, which established this right.

The proposal recalls similar attempts in states like Alabama, which later abandoned an immigration status requirement following legal challenges. Experts warn that moves to overturn established rights, such as Plyler, should be closely monitored, particularly given recent Supreme Court shifts on pivotal issues.

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