Oklahoma State Board of Education Votes to Require Proof of Students’ Immigration Status
In a move that has sparked controversy and ignited protests, the Oklahoma State Board of Education unanimously approved a proposed rule that would mandate parents enrolling their children in public schools to provide proof of their child’s US citizenship or legal immigration status. The board’s decision, aimed at aligning with former President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies, still awaits approval from the legislature and the governor.
The rule stipulates that parents or legal guardians must present documentation, such as a US birth certificate, US passport, consular report of birth abroad, permanent resident card, or other legal document, to verify the citizenship status of their children during enrollment. While this rule does not bar students without legal status from attending school, it does require districts to record the number of students for whom proof of citizenship was not provided. This data, devoid of personally identifiable information, must then be reported to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a Republican, defended the rule as a necessary tool for schools to effectively allocate staff and resources. “Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that. It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools,” Walters explained. However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from teachers, civil liberty groups, and Oklahoma’s immigrant communities, instilling fear and uncertainty among residents.
As the board convened, hundreds of students and protesters gathered outside the administration building to voice their opposition to the decision. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, a Democrat representing Oklahoma City’s heavily Hispanic south side, expressed concerns about the impact on families. “The community is scared, obviously. 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?” Alonso-Sandoval questioned.
Javier Terrazas, a construction worker from south Oklahoma City, shared his firsthand observations of the palpable fear among residents. “Seeing the parents’ faces, the look of fear when I go to pick up my daughter. Everybody is looking over their shoulder. I’ve never seen that. It’s tough seeing that. It’s heartbreaking,” Terrazas lamented.
Superintendent Jamie Polk of the Oklahoma City Public Schools, one of the state’s largest districts, reassured parents and staff that the district upholds every child’s right to a public education irrespective of immigration status. “OKCPS does not, nor do we have plans to, collect the immigration status of our students or their families,” Polk affirmed in a letter following the rule’s proposal.
In a stance aligning with former President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, Superintendent Walters emphasized the department’s readiness to share immigration information with law enforcement authorities. “If a law enforcement official comes in and asks for information, we’re legally required to provide that information,” he stated. “If they come and ask us for certain information, we’ll happily provide that.”
Walters, known for his vocal opposition to what he terms “woke” ideology in public schools, has pushed for Bible instruction in classrooms and attempted to censor certain books from school libraries. The proposed rule in Oklahoma echoes Alabama’s controversial 2011 legislation, which sought to ascertain the immigration status of students but faced legal challenges and subsequent blocks.
Immigrant rights advocates caution against undermining the precedent set by the 1982 US Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v Doe, which affirmed the right of children living in the country illegally to attend public schools. With recent judicial shifts challenging long-standing precedents on various issues, the debate over the rights of immigrant students to access public education remains a contentious and evolving issue in the national discourse.