The State Board of Education in Oklahoma has approved a proposed rule that requires parents enrolling children in public schools to provide proof of their child’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status. The rule is aimed at supporting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and still needs to be approved by the Legislature and the governor.
The rule would not prevent students without legal status from enrolling in or attending school, but it would require districts to document the number of students without proof of citizenship and report that information to the State Department of Education.
The move has sparked protests and criticism from teachers, civil liberty groups, and Oklahoma’s immigrant communities. Some fear that the rule will cause parents to consider unenrolling their children from school out of fear. Oklahoma City Public Schools has reassured parents that they will not collect immigration status information from students or their families.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters has expressed support for enforcing immigration laws and allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into schools. Critics argue that the proposed rule goes against a 1982 Supreme Court ruling that guarantees the right of children living in the country illegally to attend public schools.
In response to the criticism, Walters has defended the rule as a means to gather information about students in the school system. The plan has been met with divided opinions among Oklahoma residents and has raised concerns about the potential impact on immigrant communities.
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