Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has received backing from the Trump Department of Justice and 22 state attorneys general in his effort to enforce a state immigration law. According to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s official website, these parties filed briefs with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, asking the court to lift a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones that currently blocks the law.
The law, House Bill 4156, was enacted in April 2024. The Trump DOJ’s brief argues that the Oklahoma law complements federal immigration statutes by penalizing individuals who entered or reentered the United States in violation of federal law. A separate brief filed by Iowa described similar approaches by other states to support federal immigration enforcement goals.
Drummond stated that individuals who have violated federal law should not have standing to challenge a state statute that mirrors federal immigration laws. He expressed appreciation for the support from the Trump DOJ and the other attorneys general, noting his focus on combating illegal activities such as unlawful marijuana cultivation by international cartels.
Opposition to the law continues. Advocacy groups, including Padres Unidos De Tulsa, have advanced a legal challenge on behalf of two anonymous individuals citing fears of exposure to federal authorities. The case remains before the Tenth Circuit, and legal observers are watching for a potential review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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