Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt has revealed plans to deport criminal illegal immigrants currently housed in state prisons, aligning with President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming mass deportation initiative.
The move aims to address the issue of illegal immigrants in custody while supporting Trump’s focus on border security and national safety.
Stitt has tasked the state’s Commissioner of Public Safety with developing the plan, which will be presented by January. The state plans to consult with the incoming Trump administration to ensure the implementation of the initiative. Stitt described the effort as a “common sense” approach, stating that it was necessary to restore “the rule of law” in Oklahoma.
“There are over 500 criminal illegal immigrants in Oklahoma prisons, costing taxpayers $36,000 a day to house them. These are people who are here illegally and have committed crimes, and we want to make sure that they’re not burdensome to taxpayers,” Stitt told Fox News Digital.
The move comes as Trump vows to initiate a mass deportation effort in the coming year, though it has sparked opposition from some Democrat-led “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Trump’s incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has made clear that the focus will be on public safety and national security threats, though all illegal immigrants are being considered for removal.
Governor Stitt expressed surprise at the opposition from some Democratic governors, mainly when the plan focused on removing criminals from the U.S. “The American people want safe communities and strong borders,” he said. “We want to make sure that people here illegally, particularly those involved in crimes like fentanyl trafficking, rape, or burglary, are removed from our country.”
While Oklahoma is not a border state, Stitt emphasised that the state has been impacted by the ongoing border crisis, including a significant rise in fentanyl deaths since he took office.
He also cited the recently foiled Election Day terror plot, where the suspect was found to be residing in Oklahoma.
Stitt reiterated that his stance on immigration is not anti-immigrant but instead focused on removing those who break the law.
