Oklahoma Proposal Requires Parents to Provide Immigration Status When Enrolling Students

State Board of Education Approves Rule Amid Protests and Controversy

The Oklahoma State Board of Education has approved a proposal requiring parents to provide proof of their child’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status when enrolling students in public schools. The rule, which still needs to be approved by the Legislature and the governor, aims to help schools gather information about the number of students with illegal immigration status.

Background

The proposal is part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump to enforce immigration laws and has been met with protests and controversy. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled that children living in the country illegally have the right to attend public schools, but some conservative lawmakers have questioned whether immigrants without legal residency should have the right to a public education.

Reaction from Education Chief

Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the state’s education chief, defended the proposal, saying it is needed to help schools gather information about where to place staff and resources. “Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that,” Walters said. “It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools.”

Protests and Criticism

Hundreds of students and protesters gathered outside the administration building to protest the board’s decision, with many expressing fear and uncertainty about the proposal. Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, a Democrat who represents Oklahoma City’s heavily Hispanic south side, said the community is scared and is questioning whether to unenroll their children from school.

Federal Law and Supreme Court Ruling

For decades, children of families living in the country illegally have had the right to attend public school based on a 1982 Supreme Court decision known as Plyler v. Doe. In a 5-4 vote, justices held it is unconstitutional to deny children an education based on their immigration status. Alabama attempted to require public schools to ask the immigration status of students as part of a sweeping immigration law in 2011, but the state ultimately agreed to permanently block those provisions after a federal appeals court temporarily halted them.

Conclusion

The Oklahoma proposal requiring parents to provide immigration status when enrolling students has sparked controversy and protests. While the proposal still needs to be approved by the Legislature and the governor, it has raised concerns about the impact on immigrant communities and the right to a public education.

FAQs

* What is the purpose of the proposal?
+ The proposal aims to help schools gather information about the number of students with illegal immigration status.
* What is the reaction from education officials?
+ Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters defended the proposal, saying it is needed to help schools gather information about where to place staff and resources.
* What is the reaction from protesters and critics?
+ Hundreds of students and protesters gathered outside the administration building to protest the board’s decision, with many expressing fear and uncertainty about the proposal.
* What is the legal basis for the proposal?
+ The proposal is based on a 1982 Supreme Court decision known as Plyler v. Doe, which held it is unconstitutional to deny children an education based on their immigration status.