Oklahoma proposal requires parents to provide immigration status when enrolling students
Share and Follow


OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Parents enrolling children in Oklahoma public schools will be required to provide proof of their child’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status under a proposed rule approved Tuesday by the State Board of Education.

The board voted unanimously to approve the rule aimed at helping President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. It still needs to be approved by the Legislature and the governor.

Here are some things to know about the proposed rule.

What does the rule require?

The rule requires parents or legal guardians to provide proof of citizenship of their children when enrolling them in public school, including a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, consular report of birth abroad, permanent resident card or other legal document.

The proposed rule would not prevent students without legal status from enrolling or keep them from attending school. But it would require districts to record the number of students for whom proof of citizenship was not provided and to report those numbers, excluding personally identifiable information, to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Why is the rule being proposed?

Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the state’s education chief, said the rule is needed to help schools gather information about where to place staff and resources.

“Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that,” Walters said. “It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools.”

There are an estimated 90,000 Oklahoma residents without legal status, including an estimated 6,000 children enrolled in schools in Oklahoma, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on improving immigration policy.

How are people reacting to the rule?

While the board met, hundreds of students and protesters gathered outside the administration building to protest the board’s decision.

The plan has been sharply criticized by teachers and civil liberty groups, and is causing fear within Oklahoma’s immigrant communities, said Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, a Democrat who represents Oklahoma City’s heavily Hispanic south side.

“The community is scared, obviously,” Alonso-Sandoval said. “The conversations I’ve had with parents, all they’re doing is trying to provide the best opportunity for their kids, like any parents. They are starting to question: Do I unenroll my child from school?”

Javier Terrazas, a construction worker from south Oklahoma City with an elementary school-aged daughter, said he’s noticed how fearful some residents are when they go to pick up their children.

“Seeing the parents’ faces, the look of fear when I go to pick up my daughter,” he said while protesting the board’s decision. “Everybody is looking over their shoulder. I’ve never seen that.

“It’s tough seeing that. It’s heartbreaking.”

At Oklahoma City Public Schools, one of the state’s largest districts, Superintendent Jamie Polk said in a letter to parents and staff last month — after the rule was first proposed — that federal law guarantees every child’s right to a public education, regardless of immigration status.

“OKCPS does not, nor do we have plans to, collect the immigration status of our students or their families,” she said.

What will Oklahoma do with the information?

Walters has said he will support efforts by Trump to enforce immigration laws, including by allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into Oklahoma schools.

He reiterated that position on Tuesday, saying the department stands ready to share any immigration information it gathers with law enforcement partners.

“If a law enforcement official comes in and asks for information, we’re legally required to provide that information,” he said. “If they come and ask us for certain information, we’ll happily provide that.”

Walters has spent much of his first term in office attacking what he describes as “woke” ideology in public schools, requiring Bible instruction in classrooms and attempting to ban books from school libraries.

What does current law say?

A 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1982, known as Plyer vs. Doe, affirmed the right of children living in the country illegally to attend public schools, although some conservative lawmakers have questioned whether immigrants without legal residency should have the right to a public education.

Alabama attempted to require public schools to ask the immigration status of students as part of a sweeping immigration law in 2011, but the state ultimately agreed to permanently block those provisions after a federal appeals court temporarily halted them.

Immigration experts say attempts to undermine the Plyler decision should be taken seriously, pointing to recent Supreme Court rulings that have overturned longstanding precedents on abortion rights and affirmative action in higher education.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
After confirming possible White House run, California's Newsom scores a win in fight for US House

California’s Newsom Eyes White House Bid with Strategic Victory in US House Battle

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent triumph in the battle over control of…
Trump issues response after Zohran Mamdani elected NYC mayor

Trump Reacts: Zohran Mamdani’s Historic Win as NYC Mayor Stirs Political Waves

New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has expressed a readiness…
Actors Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi say filming new 'Predator: Badlands' movie was a challenge

Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi Reveal Challenges in Filming ‘Predator: Badlands

“Predator: Badlands,” the latest addition to the science-fiction saga, has hit the…
Democrat Spanberger storms to victory in Virginia in anti-Trump wave

Democrat Abigail Spanberger Wins Decisively in Virginia Amid Strong Anti-Trump Sentiment

Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, has surged to a commanding victory in the…
Statewide and Southeast Georgia 2025 Election | Results

Georgia 2025 Election Results: Key Outcomes and Insights from Statewide and Southeast Races

First Coast News is closely monitoring the final results of the November…
Texas leads in ICE arrests under Trump administration: Report

Texas Tops Nation in ICE Arrests During Trump Administration, New Report Reveals

In Dallas, recent figures highlight that immigration enforcement under the Trump administration…
Harvard Medical School explosion suspects on the run, police say it's safe to return to campus

Unveiling the Culprits: How Social Media Led Feds to Harvard Medical School Explosion Suspects

Federal authorities announced that two college students from Massachusetts are accused of…
Zohran Mamdani storms to victory in New York City mayoral race

Breaking New Ground: Zohran Mamdani’s Historic Win in NYC Mayoral Election

In a stunning political development, Zohran Mamdani has been elected as the…