Legislative Updates: Immigration (April 24, 2026)

Welcome to this week’s immigration-focused newsletter, where we recap the latest developments on this legislative session’s slate of immigration related bills.

Earlier this month, the Legislature passed a budget, and word is that they are planning to gavel out of session by May 7, which would be three weeks earlier than planned. This means that the timeline of bills we are watching could be faster than expected, so as always, keep an eye on OK Policy’s Immigration Bill Tracker to stay up to date with the latest developments.

State Developments

House

Bills that have passed out of committee have until May 7 to pass off the floor.

• SB 1633 by Brenda Stanley – Passed Education Oversight committee 7-2.
  • The bill removes a provision that allowed students who graduated from Oklahoma high schools and resided in the state with their legal guardian to be eligible for in-state tuition, even if they couldn’t provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or immigration status.
  • You can watch the Senate committee meeting here and the floor hearing here.
  • You can watch the House policy committee here and oversight committee meeting here.

Senate

HB 4422 and HB 4423 did not get heard in their Senate committee this week, meaning that they are technically dead since they missed the April 23 deadline to pass out of committee.

Bills that failed to move forward

• HB 4422 by Kyle Hilbert – Failed to be heard in committee.
  • The bill mandates the use of SAVE to verify the eligibility and legal status of applicants for TANF and SNAP. If an applicant’s status can’t be confirmed, the Attorney General will notify ICE.
  • You can watch the policy and oversight committees here. You can watch the floor debate here.
  • Failed to be heard in the Health and Human Services committee.

• HB 4423 by Kyle Hilbert – Failed to be heard in committee.
  • The bill mandates the use of SAVE to verify the eligibility and legal status of applicants before receiving state health care benefits. If an applicant’s status can’t be confirmed, the Attorney General will notify ICE.
  • You can watch the policy and oversight committee meeting here. You can watch the floor debate here.
  • Failed to be heard in the Health and Human Services committee.

Next Steps

SB 1633 has until May 7 to be heard on the floor.

Ways to get involved

Thank you to everyone who reached out to their legislators in regards to HB 4422 and HB 4423. Your voice made a difference and helped keep these bills from being heard.

Reach out to legislators to let them know how you want them to vote on the remaining anti-immigrant bill! Below are some potential speaking points to help you during your conversation with legislators.

• SB 1633 is headed to the House floor, click here to find your Representative.
  • Forcing Oklahoma students to pay out-of-state tuition would more than double the cost of attending college and effectively prevent hundreds of perfectly qualified students from attending.
  • Oklahoma has the fifth-lowest share of degree holders in the country; it is against the state’s best interest to make it harder for our students to get a higher education.

Don’t know who your legislator is? Find them here.

Other notable immigration news

The news stories included in this section may be distressing to readers. While it is important to stay informed on the changes to immigration policy that affects our friends, family, and neighbors, it is also important to take care of yourself. We advise being intentional about engaging with news media and taking breaks as needed. Now more than ever it is important to practice resilience and stay rooted in community.

State

• Pair of welfare immigration reporting bills fail in the Oklahoma Senate [KOSU]
• OKC Council renews controversial LexisNexis police contract [The Oklahoman]
• Are 3 in 100 immigrants granted asylum? [Oklahoma Watch]
• 10th Circuit affirms conviction of ‘kidnapped’ Fabian Cobos Carpena after Tulsa County transfer to ICE [NonDoc]

Federal

• Trump may send Afghan allies to Congo [NBC News]
• Senate Republicans approve budget measure, teeing up bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol [NBC News]
• ICE detained more than 70 Minnesota children, data reveals [Sahan Journal]
• Federal Appeals Court to Test Trump’s Immigration Arrest Tactics [Bloomberg Law]
• ICE went on a hiring spree. Sterling credentials not required [AP News]
• U.S. Immigration Service Increases Denials For High-Skilled Immigrants [Forbes]
• Immigrant Challenges DHS Rule Halting Work Permit Extensions [Bloomberg Law]
• Temporary protected status holders add $29bn to US economy, report says [The Guardian]
• Houston in showdown with state over immigration ordinance [The Texas Tribune]
• Ed. Dept. Moves to Shutter Its Office for English Learners [Education Week]
• Ordered free, still locked up: Judges fume over ICE detentions [Los Angeles Times]
• Wife of active-duty U.S. Army soldier detained by ICE in Texas at immigration appointment [CBS News]