Biden’s DOJ warns GOP state with lawsuit over immigration efforts
Amid ongoing battles over immigration policies, the Biden administration is once again clashing with Republican-led states, this time threatening to sue Oklahoma over its new anti-illegal immigration bill. This move comes after similar lawsuits were filed against Iowa and Texas for their respective legislation targeting illegal immigrants.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt recently signed HB 4156 into law, which criminalizes being in the state illegally and grants local law enforcement the authority to arrest and remove illegal immigrants within 72 hours of conviction or release from custody. The law is set to take effect on July 1, following the footsteps of Iowa and Texas, whose laws are currently facing legal challenges from the Department of Justice.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton warned Oklahoma officials that HB 4156 violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution, drawing parallels with Texas’s Senate Bill 4, which is currently under an injunction. The DOJ argues that the state legislation encroaches on federal jurisdiction over immigration laws.
As tensions rise between the federal government and conservative states pushing for tougher immigration policies, the clash seems inevitable. States like Texas, Iowa, and now Oklahoma are taking a hardline stance on illegal immigration, prompting legal battles over states’ rights versus federal authority.
In response to the DOJ’s threat of a lawsuit, Oklahoma’s Attorney General Gentner Drummond vowed to defend the law vigorously, accusing the Biden administration of neglecting its responsibilities at the southern border. Drummond emphasized the state’s duty to protect its borders and citizens, refusing to back down in the face of federal pressure.
Amidst this heated debate, other states are considering similar legislation. Arizona lawmakers are eyeing a ballot measure to criminalize illegal immigration, while Louisiana is moving forward with its own version of the anti-illegal immigration bill, following the lead of Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma.
With both sides digging in their heels, the legal and political showdown over immigration policies continues to escalate. The clash between federal authority and states’ rights underscores the deep ideological divide on how to address the complex issue of illegal immigration in the United States.
As the Biden administration and Republican-led states remain at odds, the future of immigration policy in America hangs in the balance, shaped by legal battles, political posturing, and competing visions for the nation’s borders.
