Legislative Updates: Immigration (May 15, 2026)

Welcome to the last immigration newsletter of this legislative session. Now that legislative session has ended, the newsletter will be published as-needed when there is a major immigration-related development in Oklahoma.

Thank you all for subscribing and remaining informed on these important issues. Attacks on our immigrant family and friends will not end anytime soon, so we encourage you to find ways to get involved in your local communities to build solidarity and look out for one another.

State Developments

House

• SB 1633 by Brenda Stanley – Signed into law May 12.
  • 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.
  • It goes into effect immediately.

Senate

On May 6, Governor Stitt passed an executive order that makes the provisions of both HB 4422 and HB 4423 into law. This means that even if the bills die in the legislature, the harmful provisions of the bills will still go into effect via the executive order.

• HB 4422 by Kyle Hilbert – It was not heard before Sine Die.
  • 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.

• HB 4423 by Kyle Hilbert – It was not heard before Sine Die.
  • 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.

Ways to get involved

We will inform you when the governor’s executive order is open to public comments. This period represents an opportunity to mitigate harm and influence how the policy is implemented.

In the meantime, you can sign up for OK Policy’s additional newsletters that keep you up to date with the latest news around Oklahoma.

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

• The Oklahoma Communities Gutted by ICE [Mother Jones]
• Oklahoma Senate leader defends ending chamber work early [KOSU]

Federal

• They Called 911 For Help. Police Sent Them to ICE. [The Marshall Project]
• New wave of ICE deployments to impact 40 or more states [USA Today]
• ICE warrantless arrest standards fall short, judge says [AP News]
• Chicago teen Kevin Gonzalez dies from cancer after renuion with parents [NBC Chicago]
• School Discipline Legislation in Texas Worries Immigration Advocates [Pulitzer Center]
• Trump administration plans to name David Venturella as interim ICE chief after Lyons’ departure [CBS News]
• The economic chilling effect of Trump’s immigration crackdown : Planet Money [NPR]
• 10,000 rulings: The courts’ overwhelming rebuke of Trump’s ICE policies [POLITICO]
• After ICE raids, immigrants are living in fear. How their neighbors are trying to help [Harvest Public Media via KCUR]
• Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration facility to close [The Hill via KFOR]