A federal judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of an Oklahoma law that would criminalize illegal immigrants living in the state, halting it for at least two weeks as legal challenges proceed.
US District Judge Bernard Jones issued the ruling Tuesday, pausing implementation of House Bill 4156, which was signed into law last year but has not taken effect due to ongoing litigation. The law would allow state and local law enforcement to arrest individuals suspected of being in the country illegally.
Under the law, a first offense would be treated as a misdemeanor, carrying penalties of up to one year in jail and a $500 fine. A second offense would be classified as a felony, with up to two years in prison. Convicted individuals would also be required to leave Oklahoma within 72 hours of release or sentencing, according to a report by Fox News.
The bill was signed in April of 2024, but has not taken effect due to a lawsuit by the Biden administration. The lawsuit argued the law was unconstitutional and an overreach into federal immigration authority, but was later dropped by the Justice Department after the Trump administration took control of the federal government.
However, two unnamed illegal immigrants and an advocacy group represented by the ACLU filed a new lawsuit, prompting the court to issue another temporary injunction. Judge Jones said the case is likely to succeed on its merits and indicated he would consider a longer-term injunction following a court hearing in June.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond strongly criticized the ruling in a post on X, calling it “outrageous” and defending the law as necessary for combating illegal marijuana cultivation and fentanyl distribution in the state. He also criticized the court for allowing the case to continue despite two of the plaintiffs remaining anonymous to hide their identities from immigration authorities.
“In the name of federal law, the court is protecting admitted lawbreakers from federal and state consequences,” Drummond stated. “This is perverse, contrary to the rule of law and we will be evaluating all options for challenging the ruling.”
